Gus Atkinson rewrites history, becomes second bowler to take 50+ wickets on first year of test cricket

Gus Atkinson made his test debut at the Lord’s against West Indies in July 2024.

England pacer Gus Atkinson created history during the first day of the third test between New Zealand and England at Seddon Park, Hamilton. The 26-year-old England bowler, who made his test debut in July this year, became only the second player to take more than 50 wickets in the first year of test cricket career.

He dismissed Will Young and Daryl Mitchell during the first session of the Hamilton test to take his tally to 50 wickets in just 11 tests this year. He has been in sublime form this year, and England will hope that he can maintain his excellent run into next year’s Ashes series.

Gus Atkinson becomes second bowler to take 50+ wickets on first year of test cricket

Atkinson joined former Australian pacer Terry Alderman to become the only second cricketer in the history of test cricket to pick up 50 wickets in a cricketer’s first year in the format. Alderman took 54 wickets in his first year as a test cricketer in 1981.

Further, Atkinson also joined Jasprit Bumrah, who has taken 53 wickets in 12 tests in 2024, as the only two bowlers to have taken over 50 test scalps this year so far.

The fast bowling duo is followed by spinners Prabath Jayasuriya and Ravichandran Ashwin, who have 48 and 47 wickets respectively this year.

Shoaib Bashir follows these bowlers closely with 47 scalps. If Bashir takes three wickets, he will join Bumrah and Atkinson in this elite group.

New Zealand and England Playing XI(s) for Hamilton test:

New Zealand: Tom Latham (c), Will Young, Kane Williamson, Rachin Ravindra, Daryll Mitchell, Tom Blundell (wk), Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry, Tim Southee and William O’ Rourke.

England: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ollie Pope (wk), Ben Stokes (c), Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Matthew Potts and Shoaib Bashir.

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