Gus Atkinson etched his name in the honours board at Lord’s, courtesy his maiden Test century on August 30, Day 2 of the second Test between England and Sri Lanka.
Gus Atkinson’s Stellar Ton Against Sri Lanka
Considered primarily a bowler, Atkinson played a vital role with the bat coming into day five undefeated on 74. His attacking brand of cricket was exactly what the Bazball method ordered as he hit back-to-back boundaries off the first two balls from Lahiru Kumara. He was initially given out leg before wicket off the third ball of the day but a successful review saved him.
He continued the attack, adding more boundaries off Milan Rathnayake and Kumara to quickly move into the 90s. Back-to-back boundaries in the 93rd over helped him reach his hundred and end that over in style.
📅 June 2024 – Never played Test cricket
---Advertisement---📅 August 2024 – Has his name on both sides of the Lord’s honours board
Gus Atkinson is some cricketer 🔥 pic.twitter.com/XHQtynVcca
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) August 30, 2024
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His innings was quite important to help England recover from that dicey position on Day 1 and stitch a fine total at Lord’s. This became his highest first-class score with Atkinson’s knock of 118 runs coming off 115 balls featuring 14 fours and 4 sixes.
Joe Root Compares Atkinson With Jacques Kallis
Atkinson’s fine performance drew comparisons with the legendary all-rounder Jacques Kallis, with Joe Root pointing out the similarity in some of his shots to that of Kallis’ technique. He was eventually dismissed for 118, caught smartly by Rathnayake.
Always nice to have Jacques Kallis in at no. 8 😉 pic.twitter.com/HkLQ1qjmB0
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) August 30, 2024
“I’ll tell you why it was good watching Gussy bat at the end, being at the other end when he hit those straight sixes, they were unbelievable. It’s like watching someone like Jacques Kallis play. It was a great little innings from him, and there was some good partnerships along the way and we’ve found ourselves in a really good position now,” Root said in a video uploaded by ECB.
High praise from Joe Root 😂 pic.twitter.com/ih52NHhv9s
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) August 29, 2024
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Gus Atkinson’s masterclass 118 off 115 balls along with Joe Root’s 143 off 206 balls, turned the fortunes of the Test match around for England from being in a position of vulnerability to one that is commanding. Atkinson joined forces with Root in the middle when England had lost two quick wickets post the solid partnership between him and Harry Brook with the team at 216/6. By the time he got out, England had reached 420/9.
