[Watch] Gus Atkinson takes 3 wickets in 4 balls to register a fifer on day 1 of ENG vs WI 1st Test
England debutant Gus Atkinson has cut through the West Indies' batting line-up on Day 1 of the 1st Test at Lord's, registering a fifer. The right-arm pacer dismissed Alick Athanaze, Jason Holder, and Joshua da Silva to expose the feeble batting line-up of the tourists.
All three wickets came in the same over when Ben Stokes introduced the 26-year-old to send down his ninth of the innings. He started by dismissing a set Athanaze, who poked to Joe Root at first slip. Jason Holder was gone first ball and edged it to Harry Brook at the slip cordon while Da Silva only survived two deliveries as he nicked it to the keeper Jamie Smith.
You can watch the dismissals below:
Atkinson got his first Test wicket in the form of the visiting captain Kraigg Brathwaite, perishing in the first session of play. The opening session saw the Caribbeans end with 61-3 in 28 overs, with Atkinson snaring two of those.
James Anderson denies Gus Atkinson an eight-wicket haul
The build-up ahead of the Lord's Test against the West Indies has been all about James Anderson, who announced his retirement in May after input from captain Stokes, coach Brendon McCullum, and managing director Robert Key. Anderson will be available for the national team as a fast-bowling mentor after retiring.
The 41-year-old's entire family is present at the venue for his final Test appearance, with his daughters ringing the bell ahead of the contest. While the Lancashire seamer went wicketless until his 10th over, he managed to snare one in his 11th by dismissing Jayden Seales.
The spotlight has also been on the veteran due to him being in sight of a monumental Test record. With a staggering 701 scalps under his belt, he needs eight more to become the second-highest wicket-taker in Tests. However, it will require a herculean effort from him in the second innings to get there.