26 years old England National Cricket Team right-arm pacer Gus Atkinson continued his love affair with Lord’s Cricket Ground in the second Test of the three-match series against the Sri Lanka National Cricket Team, ending the series on a high to continue his dream in Test cricket for the Three Lions.
Gus Atkinson has played just 5 Test matches and has already established himself as a regular in the team. He has shown that he has a very bright future in the longest format of the game with incredible performances both with bat and ball in these 5 matches.
Gus Atkinson smashed 118 runs off 115 balls, including 14 fours and 4 sixes, in the first innings against Sri Lanka in the second Test and later recorded bowling figures of 2/40 and 5/62 to claim the Man of the Match award.
Atkinson, the fastest player to have his name on all three Lord’s honors, took the PoTM award from twin ton scorer Joe Root as England cruised to a 190-run victory to win the series.
Meanwhile, Gus Atkinson became the third player to take five-fors and a double ton at Lord’s. He joined Vinoo Mankad (1952) and Ian Botham (1978) in the elite list after his sensational achievement. Also, he is the third English cricketer in Test cricket history to achieve this double after Tony Greig (1 time) and Ian Botham (5 times).
The 26-year-old is relishing playing at Lord’s as he has taken 19 wickets at an average of 10.94, a strike rate of 15.9 in just 2 games at the venue and has already hit 3 fives. After 5 Tests, he is joint second with Fred Trueman and Thomas Richardson in the list of highest wicket takers for England, with only Nicholas Cook (34 wickets) ahead of them.
Also, Gus Atkinson equaled Ian Botham’s record in 1978, when he achieved the same figures in a season in two Tests against Pakistan and New Zealand, with 19 wickets and three five-threes at Lord’s this summer.
It’s incredible to get on both honors – Gus Atkinson
Speaking after winning the Man of the Match award, Gus Atkinson said it was an incredible feeling to be named on the Lord’s honors board and it took him a while to let it sink in. He said:
“I couldn’t ask for more. It’s incredible to get both honors. It’s going to take some time to accept.”
Atkinson also praised Joe Root for being England’s leading century maker with his sensational hundred of 34 and said it was special to bat alongside him. The pacer signed hoping to continue his heroics at Lord’s. He said:
“(On Root) He’s been great this week. It was special to bat long with him in the first innings. First red-ball games at Lord’s and it’s been really good, I’m enjoying bowling on the slope, it just went my way. And long on. do it.”
