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Gus Atkinson marked a remarkable debut on Wednesday, July 10th, at Lord’s, as his devastating 7-wicket haul dismantled West Indies on the opening day of the ongoing Test match.
England skipper Ben Stokes won the toss and elected to field first. The West Indian innings began cautiously, with captain Kraigg Brathwaite and debutant Mikyle Louis ensuring a steady start in the initial ten overs.
Despite the initial efforts of James Anderson and Chris Woakes to break through, it was the introduction of Gus Atkinson in the 11th over that turned the tide decisively. The young pacer struck immediately, dismissing Brathwaite in his maiden over to provide England with the breakthrough they needed. By the 15th over, he had claimed his second victim, removing Kirk McKenzie for just 1 run.
Atkinson’s standout moment came when he clinched a memorable 5-wicket haul on debut with a stunning burst of three wickets in a single over during the 35th over. He first dismissed the well-set Alick Athanaze for 23 runs, then swiftly sent back Jason Holder and Joshua Da Silva, both without scoring, completing his fifer in style.
His devastating spell of three wickets in an over saw West Indies slump from 88 for 3 to 88 for 6. Atkinson continued to torment the West Indian batsmen, eventually finishing with exceptional figures of 7 for 45 from his 12 overs. None of the West Indian batsmen managed to surpass 30 runs, with debutant Louis’ 27 being the highest score, as they were bundled out for a mere 121 runs.
Atkinson’s performance not only showcased his talent but also highlighted England’s dominant position at the end of the day’s play, setting the stage for a compelling Test match at the iconic Lord’s cricket ground.
Gus Atkinson’s historic debut spell.
Gus Atkinson’s dazzling debut has seen him join an elite club in English cricket history, equalling the record for most wickets taken by an English bowler in a Test innings debut. His magnificent performance has now placed him alongside just four other bowlers who have achieved the same remarkable feat of claiming 7 wickets in their maiden Test appearance for England.
Test debut figures for England bowlers:
– John Ferris: 7/37 against South Africa, Cape Town, 1892
– Dominic Cork: 7/43 against West Indies, Lord’s, 1995
– Gus Atkinson: 7/45 against West Indies, Lord’s, 2024
– John Lever: 7/46 against India, Delhi, 1976
– Alec Bedser: 7/49 against India, Lord’s, 1946
As of the latest update, England stood at 88 for 1 after 19 overs in the ongoing match. Zak Crawley and Ollie Pope were at the crease, steering the home side’s innings.
