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PIX: England on top after debutant Atkinson rips through Windies

July 11, 2024

Images from Day 1 of the first Test between England and West Indies at Lord's Cricket Ground, in London, on Wednesday.

IMAGE: England fast bowler Gus Atkinson bags a five-wicket haul after having West Indies batter Joshua Da Silva caught by Jamie Smith during Day 1 of the first Test at Lord's, London, on Wednesday. Photograph: Andrew Boyers/Reuters

England were in the driving seat against West Indies at 189 for three at the close, giving them a lead of 68 after seven wickets from debutant Gus Atkinson helped them bowl out the tourists for 121 on Day 1 of the first Test at Lord's on Wednesday.

Joe Root was not out on 15 with Harry Brook on 25, after boundary-studded innings of 76 from Zak Crawley and 57 from Ollie Pope put the home side ahead on an overcast day.

 

Earlier, England fast bowler Atkinson took seven wickets for 45 runs while James Anderson, playing in his 188th and final Test before retirement, claimed his 701st wicket as the hosts dismissed the West Indies in just under 42 overs.

IMAGE: Gus Atkinson celebrates his five-wicket haul with teammates. Photograph: Andrew Boyers/Reuters

Atkinson took three wickets in four balls at one point, just missing out on a hat-trick, and recorded the best figures by an Englishman on debut since Dominic Cork's seven for 43, also against the West Indies, in 1995.

Anderson meanwhile is third on the all-time Test wicket-takers list and needs seven more to join Australian Shane Warne (708) in second place behind Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan (800).

IMAGE: Opener Mikyle Louis was the top-scorer with 27 in an otherwise forgettable innings for the West Indies. Photograph: Andrew Boyers/Reuters

Mikyle Louis, the first man from the island of St Kitts to play Test cricket for the West Indies, was his side's top scorer with 27 in an otherwise forgettable innings for the tourists.

Atkinson claimed the wicket of the visitors' captain Kraigg Brathwaite (6) with his second ball and dismissed left-hander Kirk McKenzie for one soon after.

IMAGE: Jayden Seales celebrates taking the wicket of England opener Ben Duckett. Photograph: Andrew Boyers/Reuters

Louis then became Ben Stokes' 199th Test wicket, putting the England skipper one short of an all-rounder's double of 200 wickets and 6,000 Test runs, a feat only before achieved by West Indian Garry Sobers and South Africa's Jacques Kallis.

With successive balls Atkinson removed Alick Athanaze for 23 and Jason Holder, back in the touring side's squad after nearly a year away, for a golden duck.

IMAGE: Zak Crawley is bowled by Jayden Seales. Photograph: Andrew Boyers/Reuters

Two balls later, Atkinson had Joshua da Silva caught behind by wicketkeeper Jamie Smith for a duck, leaving the West Indies in deep trouble on 88 for six.

Chris Woakes took his 150th Test wicket when he removed Kavem Hodge for 24, and Atkinson dismissed Alzarri Joseph (17) and Shamar Joseph for another duck before Anderson brought the West Indies innings to a close with the wicket of Jayden Seales on two.

IMAGE: Ollie Pope hits a four off the bowling of Jayden Seales. Photograph: Andrew Boyers/Reuters

In reply, England lost Ben Duckett (3) early to the bowling of Seales before Pope and Crawley began hitting 11 and 14 fours respectively that took England past the Windies total.

Pope was eventually trapped leg before wicket by Holder, and four overs later Seales ripped Crawley's stumps out of the ground with a perfect yorker, bringing Brook to the wicket to join Root.

Source: REUTERS
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