Gus Atkinson, the England pacer, had a memorable Day 2 in the fifth and final Test against India at The Oval in London. After missing the first four games due to injury, he made a strong return, playing a key role against India.
He took 5 wickets as England dismissed India for 224 after choosing to bowl first. Atkinson’s wickets included Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel, Washington Sundar, Mohammed Siraj, and Prasidh Krishna. This five-wicket haul brought Atkinson to 60 dismissals in 13 matches, with an average of 21 and a strike rate of 34.9. With this, the England player broke a 129-year-old record, becoming the second bowler to take 60 wickets at a strike rate below 35 in Test cricket history. George Lohmann, another England player, tops the list with 60 wickets at a strike rate of 34.1. He last played for England in 1896. Scott Bolan (Australia) is third with a strike rate of 36.
In the match, India was put to bat first by England and got out for 224. Karun Nair (57 off 109 balls, eight 4s) and Washington Sundar (26 off 55 balls, three 4s) had a half-century partnership for the seventh wicket, which was the most important thing that happened for India that game. Gus Atkinson (5/33) and Josh Tongue (3/57) were England’s best bowlers.
In England’s first innings, Crawley (64 off 57 balls, 14 4s) and Ben Duckett (43 off 38 balls, five 4s, two 6s) put on a 92-run stand. After both openers were dismissed at 129 runs, there was a batting collapse caused by Krishna (4/62) and Siraj (4/83). Harry Brook (53 off 64 balls, five 4s, one 6) did score a half-century, but could not stop England from getting dismissed for 247 runs, giving England a small 23-run lead.
At the end of the day, India was 75/2, with Jaiswal (51) and night-watchman Akash Deep (4) unbeaten, and they lead by 52 runs.