Gus Atkinson loves Lord’s
In a short Test career so far, the fast bowler has made himself at home at the Home of Cricket
The summer of 2024 was always going to be one of change for England’s fast bowling department. For the first time in many years, selectors needed to prepare for a cricketing summer without James Anderson and Stuart Broad.
Changes and fresh faces were needed for the visit of West Indies and then Sri Lanka, and the quick bowlers in both squads have made an impact. One of the relatively unknown entities ahead of the summer was Gus Atkinson, who made his Test debut in the first match of the West Indies series at Lords. Fast forward six weeks from this first game, and Atkinson has taken to Test cricket like a duck to water.
His first match saw him take 12 wickets, with seven coming in the first innings. Five wicket hauls get you on the honours board at the prestigious ground- and Atkinson went and got on it twice in three days. Granted he was helped by some poor West Indian batting, but he still needed to create chances and these were taken when they arose.
This was a superb effort with the ball, but not a lot was expected of the Surrey man’s batting ability. His first Test innings ended in a golden duck at Lord’s, but in the Sri Lanka match at the home of cricket he made sure to put this short outing behind him. Not many bowlers get on the honours board at Lord’s for their batting displays, but his 118 from 115 balls was one for the ages. 18 boundaries were packed into this blitz of a display, which saw Atkinson come to the crease with his side 216–6 and leave with them in the much stronger position of 420–9.
Setting Sri Lanka a huge target of nearly 500, England wrapped up victory on the afternoon of day four. Keen to not be outdone, Atkinson got another five-for in a dominant display. This final accolade means Atkinson has had his name written on the Lord's honours board no fewer than five times this summer.
To get on one of the three boards at Lord’s, a player must score a century, and take five wickets in an innings or ten wickets in a match. Gus Atkinson has got on all three in just two matches. In a summer that has seen Joe Root surpass Alistair Cook for the most test centuries for England, Atkinson has done well to shine brighter.
England needed a wicket-taking fast bowler to step up to the mantle left empty by not only Broad and Anderson but also the likes of Mark Wood and Chris Woakes who are used more sparingly these days. 33 wickets in five games (19 at Lord’s) show he has answered the call. With a big 18 months of Test cricket on the horizon, Gus Atkinson’s future looks bright.
The series has been wrapped up with a game to spare for England, and the usual taste of Bazball has been sprinkled across the summer. Scoring runs hasn’t been an issue for England, nor has taking wickets. Gus Atkinson has contributed heavily on both parts and as first Test summers go- his will take some beating.
