Gus Atkinson played a great game, taking 5 for 33 in the fifth Test to enable England to complete India’s first innings for only 224 runs. It was Atkinson’s fourth five-wicket haul in Tests, and it was timely, particularly because Chris Woakes was forced out of the remainder of the game with a suspected dislocated shoulder incurred while in the field.
Key Wickets on Day Two
India began Day 2 at 204 for 6 with four wickets remaining in their hand. Atkinson, who was playing at his home venue for Surrey, claimed three of those remaining wickets. But it was Josh Tongue who opened the Surrey attack, although the start was not smooth.
His first over from the Vauxhall End cost nine runs, but he got the better of Karun Nair in his second over. The ball came in aggressively and struck Nair on the back leg. Nair, who was on 57, utilized one of India’s reviews, but to no avail.
Collapse Starts After Nair’s Dismissal
Washington Sundar soon attempted to take control but made an expensive mistake. He became a victim of a short-ball trap by Atkinson and struck the ball to deep square leg, where Jamie Overton made a sharp catch. Atkinson then bowled Mohammed Siraj and got Prasidh Krishna to edge one outside off. In 18 balls, four Indian wickets fell for six runs.
India’s 224 is currently the lowest first-innings score of this Test series. The previous low was 358, also by India, at Manchester.
Atkinson’s record still talks. He now averages 21 in Test cricket, fourth-best in England seamers who have taken 50 or more wickets. His strike rate of 34.9 is second-best in the history of England bowlers with 60 or more wickets.
