James Anderson, the West Indies’ retiring icon, saw his last match overshadowed by seven wickets from debutant Gus Atkinson as they were all out for just 121 in the Lords test match on Wednesday.
This lead was built on by England at the close of play who reached 189 for 3 thus taking them 68 runs ahead.Both Zak Crawley (76) and Ollie Pope (57) contributed well-crafted half-centuries. Crawley seemed to have a hundred in sight before Seales bowled him through with a superfast leg-stump yorker that brought his brilliant 89 ball knock of 14 fours to an end.
The final hurrah for England’s Anderson, cricket’s leading fast bowler at this level after more than seven hundred and one test wickets before this three-match series began. However, Atkinson, the twenty-six-year old stole the spotlight with outstanding figures of twelve overs seven for forty-five including a triple wicket maiden.
After dismissing Alzarri Joseph and Shamar Joseph, Atkinson’s eventual numbers were second only to those of an Englishman on Test debut – Dominic Cork’s seven for forty-three versus West Indies in Lord’s 1995. In contrast, it took Anderson until Jayden Seales fell lbw off his final delivery he would bowl during West India innings and this added to his tally of Test wickets
Considering they had only played one warm-up game and their top order contained but nine caps between Kirk McKenzie, Alick Athanaze and Kavem Hodge before this match started; it is no surprise that West Indies struggled when they lost the toss under cloudy conditions
Atkinson came on to bowl in the thirty-fifth over when they were eighty-eight for three after already having taken two wickets before lunch.
Athanaze was well held by Root at slip off Athanaze’s second ball of the same over for 23.
His line and length was always difficult, his next ball was a beauty that former West Indian captain Holder in his first Test for nearly a year on returning to the team got an edge to Harry Brook at gully.
Da Silva survived a hat-trick ball but perished off the following one without scoring. His inside edge was caught by Jamie Smith, Surrey teammate to Atkinson also on debut.
With four wickets in four balls, including three successes without conceding any runs, Atkinson recorded a five-wicket haul at Lord’s during Test match.
Earlier today, as Stokes opted for fielding after winning the coin toss which drew loud cheers from the crowd at this ‘Home of Cricket’ where Anderson started strongly. Despite bowling five tight overs with the new ball which cost only eleven runs, there were no wickets under Anderson’s belt as he failed to get rid of either Kraigg Brathwaite or Mikyle Louis who opened batting.
On the previous day, during his 90th test match in Brathwaite’s West Indies, at the very least they could be sure that he will score considerable runs. However, Atkinson was able to chop into his stumps off the ball for two of them with only the second ball of his delivery.
Louis’ fine 58-ball innings came to an end when Stokes had him caught by Harry Brook diving brilliantly low down at third slip.
After Woakes was hit hard on square cut by Hodge, Pope well consulted his point and made a catch for 24 while the batsman went down to his knees shocked.
