Gus Atkinson: 'Incredible' honours board moments haven't sunk in as five-fer adds to maiden Test century at Lord's
Gus Atkinson from England is having an unforgettable summer in Test cricket. He is proud to have his name on both of the honour boards at Lord's and it will definitely take some time for the achievement to fully register with him.
The bowler from Surrey made his mark in July during the first Test against West Indies, taking an impressive 12 wickets in Jimmy Anderson's final match before retirement.
He has now increased his achievements by achieving a score of 5-62 against Sri Lanka. He also scored his first Test century in England's first innings, solidifying his place among the prestigious Lord's accolades.
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With this accomplishment, he becomes a part of a select group. Only Vinoo Mankad and Ian Botham have also achieved the feat of taking five wickets and scoring a century in the same Test match.
Even though Atkinson achieved many notable accomplishments, one of his biggest moments was helping his teammate Joe Root reach a remarkable achievement. Root broke Sir Alastair Cook's record for the most Test centuries by scoring his 34th on day three.
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"I'm really happy with how things turned out. To be featured on both honours boards is absolutely amazing," Atkinson said in an interview with Sky Sports.
It will take some time to fully comprehend.
"He has been outstanding this week and it was a real privilege to bat alongside him in the first innings."
Reaching the milestone of 100, he performed exceptionally well.
I just played my first cricket match with a red ball at Lord's and it went really smoothly.
I love bowling on the slant, but luck has been on my side. I hope this streak keeps going.
I believe that our approach to the game is to be aggressive, especially when bowling. It's satisfying as a bowler to be able to attack without being overly concerned about giving away runs.
"However, it can be physically exhausting to continuously bowl aggressive overs."
I really liked it and I am excited to see what comes next.
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"Cherish Moments: Tough Times Make It Worthwhile"
Olly Stone's performance in the Test was noteworthy, as he has overcome various injuries and surgeries to regain his place in the England team.
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Before playing at Lord's, Stone had last represented England in a Test match during a loss to New Zealand at Edgbaston in June 2021.
Now, he is leaving the historic cricket venue after taking four wickets for 126 runs. He confesses that playing for England in red ball cricket is an unparalleled joy.
"It's fantastic. Judging by the big smile on my face, I've had an incredible few days and I've really enjoyed being back," Stone said to Sky Sports.
Getting out and pursuing my passion is the ultimate high.
Playing in this venue is a unique experience and the audience has been amazing.
During challenging moments, the effort put forth is truly vindicated when we come together to rejoice in this triumph.
Tune in to the last game of the England vs. Sri Lanka series at The Oval, streaming on Sky Sports Cricket starting at 10am on Friday September 6th (with the first ball thrown at 11am).
Sky Sports+ has now been released and will be included in Sky TV, NOW streaming service, and the Sky Sports app. This allows Sky Sports customers to watch over 50% more live sport this year without any additional fees. Learn more about it here.
