3 reasons why Gus Atkinson could be the next big thing in England's Test team 

If making your Test debut at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground is a special achievement, bagging seven wickets on your Test debut is a stuff of dreams which Gus Atkinson will reminisce for the rest of his life. On a day when all the attention was on the retiring James Anderson, Atkinson wreaked havoc and ran through the West Indies line-up.

The speedster has been in the selection radar for a while, having made his white ball debut for England in September 2023. He was penetrative all through the day, as none of the Windies batters could find an answer. After being put into bat by Ben Stokes, West Indies were blown away by Atkinson.

The England team management wants to look forward, which is the reason behind Anderson being forced to call it quits after the opening Test. The Director of England Cricket, Robert Key had said that preference will be given to pacers with extra speed rather than who can take wickets. He isn't bothered about how many wickets they are taking.

“I don't care how many wickets you take. I want to know how hard you are running in, how hard you are hitting the pitch and are you able to sustain pace at 85-88mph.” Key had said.

This statement suggests that Gus Atkinson will be given a long rope. Having said that, let's have a look at three reasons why he could be the next big thing in the England Test team:

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#1 Gus Atkinson has the ability to run in and bowl fast for long periods

Gus Atkinson celebrates picking his maiden Test wicket at the Lord's.

Having played only 21 first-class games before making his Test debut, Atkinson was in the pipeline for a while.

It was his pace and ability to run in hard for long hours that prompted the selectors to include him in the red-ball squad. He has proved his mettle in the first-class circuit, but Test cricket is a different ball game altogether.

The speedster, though, not only ran in hard but also bowled in the right channels and ended up with sensational figures of 7-45. Fast bowlers in general tend to take some time to steam in, but Gus Atkinson looked like someone who could hit his straps almost immediately. He took his first Test wicket with just his second delivery and never looked back.

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#2 Atkinson adds variety to the English bowling attack

Atkinson celebrates with teammates after picking the wicket of Shamar Joseph

Over the years, England have produced world-class fast bowlers but have lacked an out and out pace bowler to serve the Test team for a long period. Mark Wood and Jofra Archer have been around the Test setup and bowled brilliantly whenever given the opportunity.

However, injuries haven't allowed the team management to give them a longer rope. Archer last played a Test in 2021, while Wood was part of the Test squad that lost in India. However Gus Atkinson looks fresh and raring to go and could be England’s solution to the variety they need in their bowling attack.

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#3 Atkinson has the ability to swing the ball both ways at pace

It's difficult for a fast bowler to have both attributes to their game. You don't really see someone swinging the ball too much when you are predominantly a hit-the-deck bowler. However, Gus Atkinson is someone from a different mould who can both swing and seam the ball at any given time.

He used the angle against the left-handers to perfection and bowled with a wobbly seam against the right-handers trying to nick them off. Swinging at pace is always a different proponent for any batter. Soi if Atkinson can sustain his pace and swing for a long time, he could become one of the next big things of the English red ball team.