Atkinson’s Dream Debut and Anderson’s Swansong Define England’s Dominant Win

England’s first Test against West Indies at Lord’s witnessed a historic debut and a poignant farewell, culminating in a resounding victory by an innings and 114 runs that showcased the passing of the baton between generations.

Gus Atkinson stole the spotlight with match figures of 12 for 106, becoming the first bowler since 1972 to claim 10 wickets on debut at Lord’s. His remarkable performance ranks as the second best debut for England after Frederick Martin’s 12 for 102 in 1972 against Australia. Meanwhile, James Anderson bid farewell to Test cricket with figures of 3-32 in the second innings, ending his illustrious career as England’s third-highest wicket-taker with 704 scalps.

The match also marked a significant comeback for Ben Stokes, who demonstrated full bowling fitness by picking up three wickets across both innings. His pivotal contributions included an eight-over spell in the first innings and a ten-over marathon in the second.

West Indies struggled from the outset, reeling at 79/6 by stumps on Day 2 and eventually folding for 136 in their second innings. Anderson set the tone early on Day 3 by dismissing Joshua Da Silva with a classic delivery, while Atkinson continued his onslaught with crucial strikes, including a yorker to dismiss Shamar Joseph.

In a poignant moment, Anderson missed a chance to end with a four-wicket haul when he dropped a straightforward catch off his own bowling, allowing Gudakesh Motie to briefly resist with a flurry of boundaries off Atkinson. However, Atkinson eventually claimed five wickets in the innings to cap off a dream debut, becoming the first England pacer since 1972 to achieve two five-wicket hauls in their debut Test.

As Anderson bid farewell amidst embraces from teammates and opponents alike, England’s victory was underpinned by Atkinson’s heroics on Day 1, where he dismantled West Indies for a paltry 121 with figures of 7/45. This performance marked Atkinson as the seventh Englishman to take seven wickets in an innings on debut, following Dominic Cork’s 7/43 against West Indies in 1995.

England’s dominance extended to their batting display, highlighted by five half-centuries, including notable contributions from Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Harry Brook, Joe Root, and debutant Jamie Smith. Their collective effort propelled England to a commanding first-innings total of 371, securing a substantial lead of 250 runs.

With Anderson and Stokes orchestrating West Indies’ collapse in the second innings, England swiftly wrapped up the match within the first session on Day 3, underscoring their supremacy in all facets of the game.

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.