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 concentrate on developing a facet capable of regain The Ashes in Australia within the winter of 2025-26 – which, on this early proof, Atkinson might kind 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.
Nonetheless, he was outshone by Surrey seamer Atkinson (7-45) as the brand new boy turned the eighth England bowler to bag seven wickets on Check debut and the second this 12 months after spinner Tom Hartley achieved the feat towards 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 dangerous mild 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 dropping 4 wickets for no runs from 88-3.
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 big 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.
Extra to comply with.
Watch day two of the primary Check between England and West Indies at Lord’s dwell on Sky Sports activities Cricket from 10.15am on Thursday.
Advert content material | Stream Sky Sports activities on NOW
Stream Sky Sports activities dwell with no contract on a Month or Day membership on NOW. On the spot entry to dwell motion from soccer, darts, cricket, F1, tennis, golf, rugby league, rugby union and extra.