As Anderson took his final bow, the centre stage was claimed by his latest successor. Gus Atkinson ripped out three more wickets to finish a brilliant first outing with match figures of 12 for 106 – the best by an Englishman on Test debut since 1890. Gus Atkinson‘s sheepish grin was perhaps partly in recognition that he had denied Anderson the chance to bookend his extraordinary Test career with twin appearances on the Lord’s honours board, but his ruthlessness was to be applauded as he blew through the West Indies tail.
Gus Atkinson with match figures of 12 for 106, became the first bowler to bag 10 wickets on debut at Lord’s since 1972, and his bowling performance was the second best for England on debut after Frederick Martin’s 12 for 102 in 1972 against Australia. James Anderson’s swansong ended with figures of 3-32 in the second innings as he finished his Test career as the third leading wicket-taker with 704.
Pitch Report and Toss
It’s almost always a five-day pitch at Lord’s unless the overhead conditions interfere. There are rains forecast, as you would in what’s expected to be one of Britain’s wettest summers since 1912. England skipper Ben Stokes won the toss and chose to bowl with two debutants in the playing XI in form of Gus Atkinson and Jamie Smith with James Anderson playing his farewell test match.
For West Indies, Jason Holder returns after missing the Australia tour due to his T20 commitments and he will be a key figure with his all-round skills. He will lead a four-pronged seam attack with the Brisbane hero Shamar Joseph the cynosure of all eyes. Gudakesh Motie will be the lone spinner.
Day 1 : Debutant Gus Atkinson headlines England’s day of domination
A terrific bowling performance from Gus Atkinson on debut, followed by a dominant batting display from Zak Crawley and Ollie Pope, put England in a strong position against West Indies at the end of Day 1 of the first Test at Lord’s.
West Indies, who started the second session at 61/3, ended up being bowled out for a lowly 121 as Gus Atkinson became the seventh Englishman to pick up seven in an innings on debut – his 7/45 only bettered by Dominic Cork’s 7/43 against West Indies at the same venue back in 1995. England then rode on Crawley’s 76 and Pope’s 57, scoring 159 in the final session at a run-rate of 4.9 to go into stumps on Wednesday (July 10) at 189/3, leading by 68 runs.
The debutants shone for both teams with England’s regular strikes helping them gain ascendancy in the first session after the hosts opted to bowl. The 23-year-old opener Mikyle Louis, playing his first game for West Indies, began confidently striking regular boundaries along with a pick-up shot for a six off Chris Woakes, while the experienced Kraigg Brathwaite struggled against the moving ball.
Despite his probing lines, the 41-year-old James Anderson playing his farewell Test, couldn’t pick up a wicket in his first spell. Gus Atkinson then came into the attack and made a good first impression as he accounted for the wickets of Brathwaite (inside edge onto the stumps) and Kirk McKenzie (caught at second slip).
The focus was also on Ben Stokes and his fitness, with the England captain having decided to skip the IPL and the T20 World Cup to get back to optimum shape. He brought himself at the start of the 14th over and bowled till the close of the first session, bowling eight overs in his first spell. He was moving the ball both ways and mixing his lengths to keep the batters guessing.
His persistence eventually reaped reward as Louis got a thick outside edge to third slip where Harry Brook pulled off a stunning one-handed catch. Anderson, brought back into the attack, and Stokes bowled till the end of the first session but Hodge and Alick Athanaze saw through to Lunch without any damage.
Joshua Da Silva ensured Atkinson did not bag a hat-trick but fell soon after, getting an inside edge to hand debutant wicketkeeper Jamie Smith his first catch. Atkinson, in the process, became the ninth England bowler to bag a fifer on Test debut at Lord’s. The milestones continued for the England bowlers as Pope took a sharp catch when Hodge cut one hard off Woakes, giving the bowler his 150th Test wicket.
Joseph decided to take the attack to England, striking four fours in an over off Atkinson, but he fell on his sword looking for a big one. Atkinson then picked up his seventh by having Shamar Joseph top-edge a pull but he couldn’t become the first England bowler to pick up eight in an innings on debut as Anderson wrapped up West Indies’ innings by trapping Jayden Seales in front.
England’s openers started cautiously in the first three overs, with only three runs coming off them, before Crawley struck two consecutive boundaries off Seales. Ben Duckett had a lucky break as Louis put down a simple catch at point to deny Alzarri Joseph a wicket in the fifth over. Crawley got a boundary in the same over, just about clearing mid on.
Seales ended the opening stand on the brink of Tea by getting Duckett to edge to the ‘keeper. Pope started positively after the break and West Indies didn’t have any luck going their way as Pope first reversed a leg-before decision given in Jason Holder’s over before the same bowler watched on disappointed as West Indies’ review for a leg-before decision against Crawley didn’t yield any positive returns.
Meanwhile, the light meters were brought out regularly with the greying clouds overhead before the umpires decided to take the players off the field briefly for bad light. West Indies’ bowlers were a lot tighter with their lines when the players returned, which meant the scoring rate slowed down a touch.
But it was only a while before the boundaries started coming again, with a four apiece off Joseph helping Pope and Crawley bring up their half-centuries. England’s second wicket pair extended their partnership to 94 as they helped their side into the lead before Holder gave West Indies some respite by having Pope out lbw.
But the frequency of boundaries increased as Root played a late cut off Seales while Crawley targeted Joseph, scoring four boundaries in two overs, although a couple of them were thick outside edges.
He also struck a four off Seales before getting bowled by a yorker in the same over as Crawley got out in the 70s for the seventh time in his career, failing to convert his last six 50-plus scores into a 100. Root and Brook then added an unbroken 36-run stand, with the latter scoring 25 of those runs, including three fours, as they led England into Stumps with a handy lead.
Day 2 : James Anderson, Ben Stokes, Gus Atkinson leave WI in disarray after Jamie Smith’s fifty on debut
Debutant Jamie Smith contributed with a half-century in a collective batting effort from England, which was followed by a clinical bowling performance led by James Anderson, Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson as the hosts were charging towards a big victory in the opening Test against West Indies at Lord’s. Having posted 371 in their first essay, England reduced West Indies to 79 for 6 at Stumps on Day 2 on Thursday (July 11), with the visitors still needing 171 runs to make England bat again.
Even though he was bowling for the last time in Test cricket, Anderson was as disciplined as ever and was moving the ball both ways, starting with maidens to Kraigg Brathwaite and Mikyle Louis. The West Indies captain, after playing 12 dots, eventually got going with a boundary past mid off in Chris Woakes’s second over, and Louis then struck a delightful front-foot punch for a four off the same bowler.
Anderson delivered the first blow as he got one to swing in late to Brathwaite to have him bowled, dismissing the West Indies captain for the eighth time in Tests. The soon-to-retire 41-year old had figures of 5-4-2-1 in his first spell.
England lost a review in Atkinson’s first over for a leg-before appeal against Louis before Stokes struck in his first over, trapping Kirk McKenzie in front for a duck, as he joined Garry Sobers and Jacques Kallis in an exclusive club of 6000 runs and 200 wickets in Tests.
The England skipper was stingy with the ball, bowling three maidens on the trot and bagged his second wicket by getting Louis to edge to the ‘keeper, soon after Alick Athanaze had struck three fours in an Atkinson over. England’s star bowler in the first innings picked up his eighth wicket of the match when he had Kavem Hodge dragging the ball onto the stumps to reduce the visiting side to 37/4.
Despite being hit for a few fours towards the end of his first spell, Stokes had impressive figures of 2 for 25 in 10 overs, including four maidens. Anderson was back into the attack at the other end, bowling in tandem with Stokes, and he also kept it tight, making run-scoring an arduous task for West Indies with Jason Holder and Athanaze in survival mode. But their resistance was cut short by the veteran pacer who tempted Athanaze into a drive to get him out caught behind.
Anderson, who became the first paceman to bowl more than 40,000 deliveries in Test cricket, had figures of 2-11 in 10 overs at the end of his second spell. Even after his lengthy bowling spell, Stokes was agile on the field and nearly had Holder run out with an excellent bit of fielding. In what turned out to be the last over before the close of play, Atkinson bombarded Holder with short deliveries and got his reward as West Indies ended the day in deep trouble.
Earlier, Jamie Smith took centre stage as his 70 helped England finish with a 250-run lead. Following half-centuries from Harry Brook and Joe Root, England lost quick wickets as they slipped to 287 for 6 from 244 for 3. Smith stepped up at this stage and received good support from Woakes as they were instrumental in the hosts finishing with 371 in their first innings.
Jamie Smith, who had assisted Root in a 33-run partnership, put on 52 with Woakes for the seventh wicket. The stand came to an end after West Indies opted for the second new ball, with Woakes flicking the ball straight to deep square leg to give Jayden Seales his third wicket. Holder then had found the outside edge of Gus Atkinson’s bat to leave England eight down
Jamie Smith, who had just the tailenders with him, upped the ante after becoming the 10th England wicketkeeper to register a fifty-plus score on debut. He hit sixes off Shamar Joseph and Seales while Shoaib Bashir did well to survive at the other end until a direct hit from Louis found him short of the crease as he tried to get Jamie Smith back on strike. Jamie Smith then struck a four off Seales before handing a catch in the deep as England were bowled out late in the second session.
At the start of the first session, Root began watchfully before Brook got into the act with a crisp cover drive for four off Seales. A half-century stand was soon established as England crossed the 200 mark, with Brook executing a late cut to perfection off Alzarri Joseph. Root found his rhythm, hitting a pull and a cover drive for two fours off Seales.
The lead surpassed 100, and Root continued to flourish with regular boundaries. The West Indies bowlers struggled with discipline and the pitch offered little assistance as England made good progress in the first hour.
Brook struck the day’s first six, pulling Shamar over the fence, and got to his eighth Test fifty, off only 55 balls, with a couple off Alzarri. But West Indies’ persistence with short deliveries paid off when Alzarri induced a top edge, leading to Brook’s dismissal and ending a 91-run fourth-wicket partnership.
It was a good little period for West Indies as Stokes fell soon after Root became the fourth half-centurion. The England captain was bowled by a delivery from Gudakesh Motie that turned in sharply, marking his fifth consecutive single-digit score. Jamie Smith and Root then put on a useful stand, which ended with Root getting bowled by Motie just before Lunch.
Day 3 : Debutant Gus Atkinson delivers comprehensive win in James Anderson’s swansong over WI in 1st Test
An unforgettable debut and a memorable farewell headlined England’s comprehensive victory by an innings and 114 runs in the first Test against West Indies at Lord’s, in a Test match that bridged generations and marked the symbolic passing of the baton.
Gus Atkinson, with match figures of 12 for 106, became the first bowler to bag 10 wickets on debut at Lord’s since 1972, and his bowling performance was the second best for England on debut after Frederick Martin’s 12 for 102 in 1972 against Australia. James Anderson’s swansong ended with figures of 3-32 in the second innings as he finished his Test career as the third leading wicket-taker with 704.
It was also a Test match that confirmed Ben Stokes’s return to full bowling fitness as the England captain bowled 18 overs across two innings, picking up three wickets. This included eight overs at one go in the first innings and 10 overs on the trot in the second.
Having been reduced to 79/6 at stumps on Day 2, with still 171 runs in deficit, West Indies’ lower order couldn’t offer much of a resistance, getting bowled out for 136 in their second essay. Anderson delivered the first strike of the day, getting Joshua Da Silva to edge to the ‘keeper with a typical delivery that angled in and shaped away. Atkinson got Alzarri Joseph on the hook to pick up his third wicket of the innings and the 26-year old debutant then had Shamar Joseph bowled with a yorker for his 11th wicket of the match.
The old warhorse Anderson had a chance to sign off with a four-fer but missed a simple catch off his own bowling when Gudakesh Motie chipped the ball back to him. Motie then struck a few fours off Atkinson, two of them off edges, while Jayden Seales played an off-drive for a four off Anderson.
Seales, attempting a pull, handed a catch in the deep as Atkinson finished with five in the second innings in what was a dream debut for the Surrey pacer. His two fifers on debut was the first instance for an England bowler since 1934, and the first by any pacer in Test cricket since 1972.
And then the focus immediately shifted to Anderson as he received hugs from his team-mates and the coach, and was greeted by the West Indian players, as he led the team off the field for the last time.
The platform for England’s victory was set up on the opening day after Stokes opted to bowl, with Atkinson running through the West Indies batting order to bowl them out for 121. Gus Atkinson became the seventh Englishman to pick up seven in an innings on debut – his 7/45 only bettered by Dominic Cork’s 7/43 against West Indies at the Lord’s back in 1995.
England then came up with a collective batting show, with as many as five half-centurions in their innings. Zak Crawley and Ollie Pope struck fifties and put on a brisk 94-run stand for the second wicket, following which Harry Brook and Joe Root scored contrasting fifties and added 91 for the fourth wicket. Jamie Smith, the Surrey wicketkeeper-batter and another debutant for England, batted well with the lower middle order as his 70 helped England finish with 371, gaining a first-innings lead of 250.
The ever reliable Anderson and Stokes combined to leave West Indies in a disarray in the second innings before the veteran joined forces with Gus Atkinson for the finishing touches to England’s dominating performance as they ended the match inside the first session on the third day.
Presentations and Road Ahead
Kraigg Braithwaite the loosing West Indies skipper said : Obviously disappointed with ourselves. With the bat, batting first, scoring just 100 odd, we were pretty much behind the game. With the bat we didn’t come to the party this game at all in both innings. With the ball still could be better and more disciplined but still a positive in that for the moment. I do believe it but the guys have to believe it as well.
They have a lot of ability and talent and it’s just about coming here and showcasing. This is the world stage, pitted against a good team. I believe in the guys. They just got to stay mentally strong after a defeat. It is a bit of pressure yes, but got be strong mentally. Some of the guys had the T20 World Cup. Sometimes it takes a bit of time, especially the fast bowlers to get into it. But in saying that we still could have been a little better with the ball.
(Asked if Shamar and Alzarri Joseph will be better for the run) I believe so… we just got to be disciplined. Jayden was good to see. Jason as well was pretty steady. We got to come together as a group. The batters, including myself, have to come to the party and make the West Indies proud.
We lost the first Test but we showed some fight. We got to fight back strong and be mentally tough and work extremely hard. (On Anderson, who has dismissed him quite a lot, retiring) I don’t mind (smiles) Obviously he (Anderson) is a legend of the game. But yeah, I won’t miss it at all.
Ben Stokes the winning England skipper said : Really good start. Long time in between games for us. To come out and put in a performance like that is clinical with bat and ball and in the field as well. I don’t think we could have started off the Test summer with a better performance than that as a team. Before the game it was amazing to see the lads get caps. Two guys who have got a very high ceiling, Gus with the ball and Jamie with bat and behind the stumps as well.
I think the future for those two is looking very, very good. He (Atkinson) is incredibly skillful. He used the Lord’s slope to his advantage. 12 wickets on debut at Lord’s, what an amazing start. We have seen a lot more potential even with the bat in the 50-over World Cup for me personally. To see him come out here and deliver the performance he has done, very exciting. (On a good environment for youngsters to come into) I think so.
I didn’t realize that until Jimmy mentioned that after Gus took 7 wickets. For us, particularly with the guys who are starting their international careers, it is about making sure they can go out there and express themselves in the way they want to. Taking all that pressure off and setting them free and running in without any worries and there is extra added pressure when you come to international cricket.
For me and Brendon it’s about adding to that (pressure) and just try and make them feel as comfortable as possible even when they are playing back in their counties. Great to be back and be able to contribute with the ball. I felt in really good rhythm in both innings and hopefully I can do that for the rest of the summer. He (Anderson) has been an incredible inspiration to so many people.
So many young people have looked up to him and try to emulate his career, which I think will be quite hard to do. The amount of games, the amount of wickets he has taken is absolutely phenomenal. We are very lucky that we are able to keep Jimmy in our dressing room. Talk about the young bowlers.
Gus coming in and and the other guys as well.. you can tell they have someone like Jimmy Anderson speak to them and offloading his learnings over his career. I think it’s going to be great for us going forward. Sometimes you can be lost for words. If you gave me 15 minutes I wouldn’t still be able to compliment him enough.
(One quality that he would like his young players to grasp from Anderson) Desire to get better. He is 41 years of age. He is always looking to improve himself as a bowler. He’s got better and better and better in his career. He always wants to contribute to the team and he’s done that every single time he’s walked out for England. Great person to look upto and yeah, just that desire of wanting to improve.
Gus Atkinson Player of the Match for 12 wickets on debut said : Incredible week. Just want to say thanks to Jimmy. Playing here in his last Test is incredible. 100% (Someone he looked up to).
Growing up Jimmy was someone I have come here to Lord’s and watch. I was standing there at mid-off looking over and watching Jimmy running in and thinking I have seen this so many times on TV. It’s amazing. That’s what is good with this group. You are allowed to come in and be the player you want to be.
It’s helped me massively to come out this week and do so well, it’s fantastic. (Getting the cap from Ollie Pope) Seeing him play for England for a few years has made me want to come out here and play for England. To join him is pretty cool.
(On pulling out of the IPL to get ready for the summer) I felt like I struggled a bit with rhythm at the start of the season for Surrey and I needed a few red ball games at Surrey leading into this. People asked me if that was the right decision and now I can tell them now, yes it was. Looking forward to the rest of the series. Really good to get the win today.
Hugs and pat on the back from the England players to James Anderson as he draws curtains on his outstanding 21-year old Test career. West Indies players too congratulate him and now he gets to lead England off the field for one final time. The West Indies come out on the field to greet and congratulate Anderson.
England coach Brendon McCullum gives him a warm long hug and Anderson just quietly disappears into the Long Room and out of international cricket. The replay of that catch shows Anderson keenly following the ball and the catch is taken he lets out a lovely smile and claps for his teammate as the game ends.
It was just a formality today to wrap this up. Most of us knew this is ending in the first session. Anderson started the show today with a sensational delivery to Da Silva where he had the batter looking to play leg-side and then found the outside edge to the keeper. Totally bamboozled like he’s done many times in his stellar career.
Alzarri was always going to attack and Gus Atkinson took care of him. Gus Atkinson nailed a yorker to knock over Shamar. Anticipation of Anderson signing off with a wicket grew. Anderson had a great chance when he got a return catch from Motie but he spilled the catch and Atkinson eventually wrapped it up with another 5-fer in the game to finish with a total of 12 wickets in the Test match.
A fast bowler who’s played 21 years. A fast bowler who’s remained this fit even at 41. A fast bowler who in the day of money-luring global franchise leagues chose to be a purist. A fast bowler who despite playing only one format has stayed so relevant and potent for all these years. A fast bowler who realised swing isn’t the only way to win and mastered scrambled seam bowling midway through his career and adapted. A fast bowler who strategically played mind games with batters.
A fast bowler on whom oppositions had to discuss at length in their team meetings. A fast bowler who quietly did his job and went off without hogging the limelight. A fast bowler who is aggressive yet nice on the outside. A fast bowler who finished with 704 Test wickets. A fast bowler like never before. James Michael Anderson – thank you for beautifying Test cricket with your swing-seam.
Thank you for getting us glued to our seats while setting up batters. Thank you for your commitment to Test cricket and carrying the flag high. Thank you for your time. The Burnley Express has been shunted to the yard and retired!