Gus Atkinson took seven wickets on a scorching England debut as he ripped the headlines from the retiring James Anderson and rolled West Indies for 121 on a dominant day for the hosts at Lord’s.
The collection opener is Anderson’s 188th and ultimate Check for England with administration eager to give attention to establishing a aspect in a position to regain The Ashes in Australia within the winter of 2025-26 – which, on this early proof, Atkinson might type a key a part of.
The notoriously shy Anderson, 41, was given an amazing reception from the Lord’s crowd forward of play on Wednesday, on the venue the place he took a five-wicket haul on debut versus Zimbabwe in 2003.
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Watch all seven of Atkinson’s wickets at Lord’s as West Indies’ innings lasted simply 41.4 overs
Nonetheless, he was outshone by Surrey seamer Atkinson (7-45) as the brand new boy grew to become the eighth England bowler to bag seven wickets on Check debut and the second this yr after spinner Tom Hartley achieved the feat in opposition to India in Hyderabad in January.
England closed on 189-3 to guide by 68 with Ollie Pope (57) and Zak Crawley (76) sharing a busy second-wicket stand of 94, one which was briefly paused by unhealthy gentle within the night session earlier than the day ended within the superb sunshine that can also be forecast for day two.
Earlier, Atkinson struck together with his second ball as West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite chopped on, whereas he then claimed three wickets in 4 balls within the thirty fifth over, together with Jason Holder for a golden duck, amid the vacationers shedding 4 wickets for no runs from 88-3.
Atkinson’s figures are the third-best by an England bowler on Check debut
Anderson picked up the ultimate wicket of the innings – his first of the day and the 701st of his glittering Check profession – when he pinned Jayden Seales lbw, sparking one other enormous Lord’s roar.
However the day belonged to Atkinson, who, admittedly whereas dismantling a highly-inexperienced West Indies batting line-up, confirmed there might be life after Anderson as Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum’s males construct for that Ashes task in 16 months’ time.
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The Lord’s crowd erupted when James Anderson took his first wicket of the Check and the 701st of his England profession
Extra to comply with.
Watch day two of the primary Check between England and West Indies at Lord’s reside on Sky Sports activities Cricket from 10.15am on Thursday.
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