Top 5 best match figures by an England bowler on Test debut ft. Gus Atkinson

Imagine stealing the show on the legend James Anderson's farewell Test. That's exactly what Gus Atkinson did at the Lord's against the West Indies. The young pacer, playing his maiden red-ball game for England, weaved his magic in Anderson's retirement Test.

Not only did he bag a stunning seven-wicket haul in the first innings, but he followed it up with a fifer in the second. With a match haul of 12 wickets, Atkinson's debut was one for the history books. In the second innings, he bagged the final wicket of Jayden Seales to clinch England the match with a mammoth margin of an innings and 114 runs.

On that note, let's take a look at the top five best match bowling spells by English bowlers on their Test debuts.

NOTE: John Ferris, who took 13 wickets on his debut for England but had previously played eight games for Australia, isn't considered on this list.

---

#1 Fred Martin - 12/102 vs Australia at the Oval in 1890

Fred Martin for England [Getty Images]

Fred Martin's fiery debut for England in 1890 was a sight to behold. Nicknamed "Nutty," Martin took a staggering 12 wickets for a mere 102 runs against Australia at The Oval.

This was a sensational performance that not only secured a win for England by two wickets but also etched Martin's name in history. More than a century has passed but the left-armer's record still remains intact for England. It is quite bewildering to know that Martin played just two Tests in his career.

In firstc-class cricket, however, he bagged a staggering 1,317 wickets across 317 matches.

---

#2 Gus Atkinson - 12/106 vs West Indies at the Lord's in 2024

England v West Indies - 1st Test Match: Day One

England might be in for another long-term option now that James Anderson has bid adieu for them. Gus Atkinson showed his class and utilized all the help off the deck in London, troubling the Windies batters left, right and centre.

He came as a first-change bowler in the first innings and straightway sent back Kraigg Braithwaite. In over number 35, however, he created magic, delivering three blows in a span of four balls. Atkinson ended up with seven wickets (7/45), which is also the second-best by any English player in an innings.

In the second innings, the 26-year-old again rattled the Caribbean batters with sheer pace and helped England bundle the opposition for 136. He bowled 14 overs, scalping five wickets to finish the Test match at 12/102 and deservingly bagging the Player of the Match.

---

#3 Charles Marriott - 11/96 vs West Indies at the Oval in 1933

Charles Marriott's Test debut in 1933 against the West Indies at The Oval was a resounding success. He ripped through the batting order, claiming 11 wickets for just 96 runs. Marriott, despite being one of the best leg-break bowlers in his era, got to play just a solitary Test match.

This remarkable bowling performance played a pivotal role in England's emphatic victory by an innings and 28 runs. Marriott's exceptional control and accuracy during the match laid the foundation for a promising Test career. He bagged a fifer in the first innings and followed it with a six-wicket haul in the second.

---

#4 Alec Bedser - 111/145 vs India at Lord's in 1946

Making his debut at the Mecca of Cricket, Alec Bedser took his first opportunity with both hands and made his debut game to remember. In the opening Teest of the 1946 series, Bedser wreaked havoc and returned with a pheonemanal figures of 7/49 in the first innings.

Using his inswing deliveries to a great effect, Bedser followed his first-innings exploits with another four-wicket haul in the second essay.

---

#5 John Lever - 10/70 vs India in Delhi in 1976

When England travelled to India for a 5-match Test series in 1976, they saw a new player enter the horizon in John Lever. On his Test debut at the then-Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium in Delhi, Lever delivered an outstanding performance, claiming seven wickets for 46 runs in India's first innings. This remains the third-best bowling spell by an Englishmen in Test innings on debut.

In the second innings, Lever bagged a three-wicket-haul, finishing the match with figures of 11/145.