England Set to Debut Promising Paceman Gus Atkinson Against West Indies at Lord’s
England’s selectors are poised to hand a highly anticipated Test debut to Surrey’s rising fast bowling talent, Gus Atkinson, as they take on the West Indies at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground on Wednesday. The 26-year-old Atkinson, who has already impressed in both white-ball formats for the national team since his debut last September, will be eager to translate his domestic success to the Test arena.
Meanwhile, Somerset spinner Shoaib Bashir is in line to earn his first international cap at home, having enjoyed a fruitful maiden tour of India earlier this year. The selectors are banking on Bashir’s ability to add variety to England’s attack, particularly after his impressive five-wicket hauls in Ranchi and Dharamsala.
Selection Dilemma and Veteran’s Retirement
The decision to select Atkinson means that Nottinghamshire’s Dillon Pennington will have to wait for his own Test debut, though the door could still open for him as early as next week’s second match in Nottingham, where England will have an additional spot to fill due to the impending retirement of veteran James Anderson.
“With Ben Stokes fit to contribute with the ball again following his recent knee surgery, the selectors have found room in the starting lineup for Bashir, who has struggled with just six County Championship wickets at an average of 76 this season, including a loan appearance for Worcestershire.”
Debutants and Returning Veteran
Surrey’s Jamie Smith will also make his Test debut, set to don the wicketkeeping gloves and bat at number seven, while the experienced Chris Woakes returns to the fold after his starring role in last summer’s Ashes series.
The England XI for the first Test is as follows:
- Zak Crawley
- Ben Duckett
- Ollie Pope
- Joe Root
- Harry Brook
- Ben Stokes (c)
- Jamie Smith (wk)
- Chris Woakes
- Gus Atkinson
- Shoaib Bashir
- Jimmy Anderson
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