England’s comprehensive victory by an innings and 114 runs in the first Test against West Indies at Lord’s hinged on an unforgettable debut performance by Gus Atkinson. His match figures of 12 for 106 are the second best on England debut after Frederick Martin’s 12 for 102 in 1972 against Australia.
James Anderson’s last hurrah saw him claim figures of 3-32 as he finished his Test career as the third leading wicket-taker with a staggering 704 to his name. Bowling for the final time in Test cricket, Anderson was as disciplined as ever and swung the ball both ways, kicking off his spell with maidens to Kraigg Brathwaite and Mikyle Louis.
Anderson, an England great, will retire as one of just the three bowlers in the coveted 700- wicket club in the red-ball format and has a realistic shot at surpassing Shane Warne’s tally of 708 scalps in his final Test. Anderson’s longevity as a professional cricketer is admired by the cricketing fraternity, and his commitment to fitness was evident in the sliding save he pulled off at the boundary rope following a quick sprint.
Talking about fitness, England fans would be happy to see Ben Stokes bowling at full tilt as the England captain sent down 18 overs across two innings, picking up three wickets. This included eight overs at a stretch in the first innings and 10 overs on the trot in the second.
Despite being hit for a few fours towards the end of his first spell, Ben Stokes had impressive figures of 2 for 25 in 10 overs, including four maidens. Even after his lengthy grind with the ball, Stokes was agile on the field and nearly ran out Jason Holder with an excellent bit of fielding.
Thanks to his penetrative bowling display, Stokes joined an elite list as he completed 6000 runs and 200 Test wickets. He became only the third player after Sir Garfield Sobers and Jacques Kallis to achieve this elusive feat.
Sobers has played 93 Test matches and scored 8032 runs while taking 235 wickets. South Africa’s star all-rounder Jacques Kallis played 166 Test matches with a tally of 13289 runs and 292 wickets. Stokes achieved the feat in his 103rd Test match, with 6320 runs and 200 wickets to his credit.
He also joined another exclusive club of players to have accomplished with a double of 10000 runs and 300 wickets in international cricket. This list includes Carl Hooper, Sanath Jayasuriya, Jacques Kallis, Shahid Afridi, and Shakib Al Hasan.
Having been reduced to 79/6 at Stumps on Day 2, trailing still by 171 runs, West Indies’ lower order couldn’t offer much of a resistance, folding for 136 in their second essay. After a career spanning 21 years, Anderson the legendary exponent of swing bowling, showed there was still some gas left in the tank as he snapped up 3 for 32 and collaborated with the 26-year old debutant to bowl England to an emphatic win.
At the end of his swansong, an emotional Anderson was ‘overwhelmed’ by the showering of love, support and adulation from all corners.
Brief scores: West Indies 121 (Mikyle Louis 27; Gus Atkinson 7-45, Ben Stokes 1-14) & 136 (Gudakesh Motie 31*; Gus Atkinson 5-61, James Anderson 3-32) lost to England 371 (Zak Crawley 76, Jamie Smith 70, Joe Root 68, Ollie Pope 57, Harry Brook 50; Jayden Seales 4-77) by an innings & 114 runs.
A special test that delivered some special deliveries. #ENGvWI @laithwaites | #EnglandCricket pic.twitter.com/8I9iIMXfTY
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 15, 2024
