Gus Atkinson, the 26-year-old right-arm spinner of the England National Cricket Team, 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 and ended the series on a high to continue his dream career in Test cricket for the Three Lions.
Gus Atkinson has played just 5 Test matches and has already established himself as a permanent member of the team. He has delivered incredible performances in these 5 matches, both with bat and ball, proving that he has a very bright future in the longest format of the game.
Gus Atkinson scored 118 runs off 115 balls, including 14 fours and 4 sixes, in the first innings against Sri Lanka in the second Test and then recorded bowling figures of 2/40 and 5/62 to take the Man of the Match award.
Atkinson, who is the fastest player to register his name on all three Lord’s honours boards, took the PoTM award over Joe Root, who scored two tons, as England sealed a 190-run victory to clinch a series win.
Meanwhile, Gus Atkinson became only the third player in history to score a five-for-one double and a ton at Lord’s. By achieving the sensational feat, he joined Vinoo Mankad (1952) and Ian Botham (1978) in an elite list. Moreover, he is only the third English cricketer after Tony Greig (1 time) and Ian Botham (5 times) to achieve this double in the history of Test cricket.
The 26-year-old loves playing at Lord’s, having picked up 19 wickets in just 2 matches at the venue at an average of 10.94, a strike rate of 15.9 and has already taken 3 five-fors. In the list of most wickets for England after 5 Tests, he sits in second position, where he shares the place with Fred Trueman and Thomas Richardson, with only Nicholas Cook (34 wickets) above them.
Also, Gus Atkinson, with 19 wickets and three five-fors at Lord’s this summer, equalled the record of Ian Botham, who managed the same numbers in a single season at the venue across two Tests against Pakistan and New Zealand in 1978.
Being on both honor rolls is amazing – Gus Atkinson
Gus Atkinson, after winning the Man of the Match award, said that having his name inscribed in the honours list at Lord’s was incredible and that it would take a while to sink in. He said:
“I couldn’t have asked for more. Being on both honour rolls is incredible. It will take me a while to assimilate it.”
Atkinson also praised Joe Root for becoming England’s leading scorer with his sensational 34th century and said batting alongside him was special. The fast-pacer signed off with the hope of continuing his heroics at Lord’s. He said:
“(On Root) He’s been excellent this week. Batting alongside him for so long in the first innings was very special. It’s the first red-ball game at Lord’s and I’ve been doing pretty well. I’m enjoying playing on the slope, it’s been going well for me and I hope it continues like this for a long time.”