England vs West Indies: Gus Atkinson’s seven-wicket haul suggests Ben Stokes’ facet’s future is protected | Cricket Information

Taking your first quiz at Lord’s could be very particular. Taking seven wickets this time was sensational.

Surrey seamer Gus Atkinson (7-45) confirmed England’s Take a look at future is protected as he helped the hosts beat West Indies by 121 runs on the primary day of the Take a look at on the Residence of Cricket.

The 26-year-old joins Tom Hartley (vs India, 2024), Josh Tongue (vs Australia, 2023), Rehan Ahmed , in opposition to Pakistan, 2023) and Will Jacks (in opposition to Pakistan, 2022) have emerged as England gamers, just lately taking 5 runs on debut, with Atkinson additional enhancing Two factors.

In his 12 overs, Atkinson bowled 30 dot balls and took 3 wickets in 4 overs at one stage, stunning the house staff’s crowd. 4 overs later, he took two wickets in three balls to the cheers of his teammates and the gang.

Atkinson admitted he “by no means imagined” the scene as he took the hat from Surrey team-mate Olly Pope alongside his household.

“I used to be attempting to remain as degree as attainable, and my dad at all times stated this was a very powerful day of my life,” he stated after the sport.

“I needed to inform him to chill out as a result of I used to be attempting to not assume that manner. I used to be slightly nervous at first, however after the primary few rounds, I used to be fairly calm.”

Atkinson took the primary two wickets with out conceding a run after which turned the fifth participant underneath Ben Stokes to take 5 runs on debut. He additionally accomplished the feat with 53 balls to prime the checklist of quickest Englishmen.

Earlier this summer time, England normal supervisor Rob Key stated he would prioritize bowlers who may present tempo over taking wickets, however Atkinson has achieved each.

He had the third-best rating by an Englishman in his first Take a look at, conceding two extra runs than tempo bowler Dominic Cork, who scored 7 in opposition to the West Indies in 1995. A document of 43 wins and 43 losses.

Atkinson picked up a wicket together with his second ball as he induced West Indies’ most skilled Take a look at batsman and captain Kraigg Brathwaite (No. 6) The underside edge, which struck the stumps, helped England break by.

He began the day bowling a cross-seam supply, however with the pitch drier than anticipated, he switched to a tighter swinging seam, which notably scattered left-handers, Kirk McKenzie (1) and Alick Athanaze (23) bought thick exterior edges off Zach Crawley and Jamie Smith.

Atkinson added: “My inventory ball is that out-of-order seam ball that appears like in the present day, bowling on the slopes, bowling from the pavilion finish, that is my most harmful ball.”

“I goal the fourth stump and attempt to run it downhill, and for left-handers, I attempt to push it previous them with the odd inswinger. I really feel that is one of the best ways for me to get wickets.

“The seams are in all probability messier than I would like, however that is one thing I can enhance on.

“I really feel like once I disrupt the seam, I can hit the ball sooner and hit it more durable, which has labored effectively for me prior to now.”

Atkinson, who performed simply 21 first-class video games earlier than making his Take a look at debut, proved profitable with England’s scouting system, which makes use of and prioritizes know-how reasonably than hand-picking.

The identical tools was used to identify Somerset off-spinner Shoaib Bashir, who, like Atkinson, made his India debut earlier this yr, resulting in his re-selection Enter this check.

What Atkinson did with the ball, Harry Brooke (No. 25) did with the bat. The 25-year-old, who missed the tour of India on account of private causes, returns to Take a look at matches for the primary time since his debut in opposition to Australia on the Oval in 2023. Beginning with a complete of 809 runs within the first six video games he performed for England, he regarded able to taking England far with the bat.

With James Anderson out after the Take a look at match, Stokes put together for a training change in preparation for the 2025 Ashes, with a staff that not solely appears protected but in addition promising within the palms of England’s younger gamers.

Watch reside motion from day two of the primary Take a look at between England and West Indies sky sports activities cricket Beginning at 10.15am on Thursday (first pitch at 11am).

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