Atkinson makes speedy claim to be England's future

Life comes astatine you accelerated and Gus Atkinson bowls faster.

For each of nan attraction and emotion generated by James Anderson’s last quality successful Test cricket, it was Atkinson who eased into nan slipstream and hinted astatine England’s tomorrow.

How cleanable it would person been had Anderson presented Atkinson pinch his headdress connected a moody Wednesday greeting astatine Lord’s – that honour went to debuting wicketkeeper Jamie Smith, pinch Atkinson welcomed to nan England fold by Surrey team-mate Ollie Pope.

Instead, Atkinson had to settee for taking complete from Anderson, virtually replacing him successful nan onslaught 10 overs into nan first greeting of nan first Test against West Indies, and responded pinch nan champion figures by an England bowler connected debut for 29 years.

His sanction was connected nan celebrated honours committee earlier nan time was out.

“I walked successful aft and nan committee is correct wherever I’m sitting, truthful it’s very typical to spot it up there,” Atkinson told BBC Sport. “I’m very proud. I don’t deliberation it’s really sunk successful yet.”

On an juncture each astir Anderson, nan stars (and acheronian clouds) had aligned to coming what seemed nan cleanable conditions to extremity a legendary profession pinch 1 last mesmeric spell.

Seldom do location crowds cheer rather truthful loudly erstwhile England triumph nan flip and take to field, but nan Lord’s spectators recognised nan grey entity and floodlights were premier Jimmy material.

There was a moving tribute video played connected nan large surface to England’s all-time starring wicket-taker, he led his squad retired for nan nationalist anthems and nan full Anderson family were connected manus to ringing nan five-minute bell.

But this shape would not beryllium filled by a top hits set, alternatively a thrilling debut album, 1 that will beryllium euphony to nan ears of nan England level pursuing nan determination to propulsion Anderson from nan dancefloor.

Not for 1 2nd is anyone trying to declare Atkinson is simply a amended bowler than Anderson now, aliases that he will beryllium successful nan future.

England, though, person nailed their colours to pace, consistently telling america that Test bowlers are astir apt to beryllium successful erstwhile they get up supra 85mph.

And, for each of nan encouragement offered to Anderson and Chris Woakes successful nan early going, West Indies openers Kraigg Brathwaite and Mikyle Louis were comparatively untroubled by bowling successful nan debased 80s.

That each changed erstwhile Atkinson pushed down nan slope astatine nan Pavilion End successful nan 11th over. Quick steps, short transportation stride, precocious arm. His first transportation deed 89mph and his second, astatine 88mph, drew nan usually obdurate Brathwaite into a chaotic hack and a drag-on to nan stumps.

“I conscionable wanted to get it down location successful a bully area. It wasn’t precisely wherever I wanted to vessel it, but it came disconnected well, truthful I can’t complain,” said Atkinson.

“It was a spot of alleviation and bully to get nan first 1 retired of nan measurement quickly.”

Atkinson’s mean velocity of 87.86 successful that opening complete is nan second-fastest by an England bowler since specified information has been measured, bettered only by Steven Finn successful Bangladesh successful 2010.

Slippery and skiddy, Atkinson made ray of nan slow transportation pinch a afloat magnitude and a scrambled seam. In his 3rd over, he added nan wicket of Kirk McKenzie, drawn into an separator to 2nd slip. Overall, his opening spell of 5 overs contained 4 maidens and nan 2 runs he did concede were from a misfield.

Tellingly it was Atkinson, alternatively than Anderson, who was asked to statesman proceedings aft lunch, a determination repaid pinch a spectacular triple-wicket maiden.

Alick Athanaze poked to first gaffe and a squared-up Jason Holder was held astatine 3rd for a aureate duck. Joshua da Silva prevented Atkinson becoming only nan 4th man to return a hat-trick connected Test debut, but adjacent shot inside-edged to springiness Smith his first drawback arsenic a Test keeper.

By this point, Atkinson had go nan 5th England debutant to return a five-wicket haul successful nan 2 years Ben Stokes has been captain, pursuing conscionable 2 successful nan 13 erstwhile years.

After Alzarri Joseph chipped to mid-on and Shamar Joseph sewage successful an disfigured tangle to beryllium caught astatine backward point, Atkinson vanished pinch 7-45, nan champion figures by an England bowler connected Test front since Dominic Cork connected nan aforesaid crushed against nan aforesaid opponents successful 1995.

When Anderson trapped past man Jayden Seales lbw to time off West Indies 121 each out, nan crowd sang Jimmy’s name, but it was Atkinson who led England from nan field.

Those who cognize Atkinson opportunity he is quiet, to nan constituent of being shy. After he showed his well-earned lucifer shot to nan crowd arsenic they applauded him off, he dropped it.

His begetter Ed was successful nan Lord’s Long Room, conscionable arsenic he was successful nan squad huddle for nan headdress position astatine nan opening of nan day, alongside Atkinson’s brother, sister and aunt. His mother Caroline passed distant aft a car clang 4 years ago.

“He’s a large cricket fan, to make him proud and my family proud is very special,” said Atkinson. “Walking done nan Long Room astatine nan extremity and seeing him location was beautiful cool.”

At 26, Atkinson is thing of a precocious developer. He did not make his Surrey debut until nan property of 22 and this is his first first-class lucifer astatine Lord’s.

“Gus Atkinson looks nan existent deal,” said erstwhile England skipper Michael Vaughan. “He bowled pinch bully zip and gait astatine nan first clip of asking.

“We cognize England are looking for pace. If you want to triumph a five-match bid against India aliases Australia, you're astir apt going to request 5 quicks that you tin rotate.

“The dream for England by adjacent summertime is that they've sewage a group of bowlers that you don't cognize who you're going to time off out.”

Life comes astatine you fast. Very soon Anderson will beryllium England’s past. Atkinson has made a speedy declare to beryllium a large portion of their future.