Sports
Pace Bowler Atkinson to Make England Test Debut Against West Indies
Pace bowler Gus Atkinson is set to make his Test debut for England in the series opener against the West Indies at Lord’s on Wednesday. The 26-year-old will join Chris Woakes and the retiring James Anderson as the specialist seamers in the squad.
Atkinson, who has previously played nine one-day internationals and three T20s, was part of the England squad for the Test tour of India earlier this year but did not feature in any matches. His Surrey team-mate, Jamie Smith, will also make his Test debut behind the stumps, having been named in the squad ahead of Jonny Bairstow and Ben Foakes.
Off-spinner Shoaib Bashir, selected ahead of his Somerset team-mate Jack Leach, will play his first home Test after winning three caps on the tour of India.
England XI:
- Zak Crawley
- Ben Duckett
- Ollie Pope
- Joe Root
- Harry Brook
- Ben Stokes (c)
- Jamie Smith (wk)
- Chris Woakes
- Gus Atkinson
- Shoaib Bashir
- James Anderson
Atkinson, capable of bowling at high pace, has taken 59 wickets in 19 first-class matches. He was preferred over Matthew Potts and the uncapped Dillon Pennington, who are the other seamers in the squad.
Smith, an attractive stroke-maker averaging over 40 in first-class cricket and more than 56 in the County Championship this season, has long been touted as a future England prospect.
Batter Harry Brook returns at number five after missing the tour of India to be with his ill grandmother, who passed away in March. Captain Ben Stokes is expected to play a full part as a bowler after recovering from a long-term left-knee injury. He had surgery in November and has been accelerating his rehab in three County Championship matches for Durham.
Stokes bowled a substantial spell in the nets at Lord’s on Tuesday, with the team able to practice outside despite the mixed weather in London.