ENG vs AUS: England’s frontline pacer since Mark Wood’s injury, Gus Atkinson’s workload, has finally been managed by the ECB. England have withdrawn him from their 50-over squad against the visiting Aussies.
Atkinson has been the best-ranked quick bowler for the team, as Mark Wood was their fastest of the lot, but in his absence, Atkinson has kept his speed up as it neared the 145 kmph mark every time he came in to bowl.
He is often known to find great swing and seam position with the red ball, though Atkinson’s remarkable form is yet to be taken in the white-ball games. In the consecutive series against the West Indies and Sri Lanka, Atkinson and Woakes have been constant for the Three Lions.
Gus Atkinson picked up 34 wickets for England in the six test matches, while his best form came in the Lord’s Test against Sri Lanka. When England seemed in trouble, Atkinson came in to bat at No. 8 alongside Joe Root, who scored a hundred as well. Atkinson scored his maiden Test hundred and then went on to pick a 5-wicket haul in the second innings that helped England secure a 190-run win against the Lankans.
Since England already has a hectic Test schedule further, as they have Mark Wood ruled out due to injury and Anderson now retired, hence Atkinson remains the second most eminent pacer alongside Woakes. They are all set to tour Pakistan for a Test series in September and then later to the Kiwi Islands for three more tests in November.
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“I think he’s okay,” England’s stand-in Test captain, Ollie Pope, said of Atkinson. “He’s obviously got a couple weeks off now just to refresh and move forward. He’s able to put his feet up now, but I think the way he bowled today and just chatting to him, he actually feels like it feels better today than it did when he first felt it, so that’s a positive for us. Fingers crossed, he’s all good.”
England management has now included the likes of Olly Stone for the 5-match ODI series against Australia. Also, the likes of Ben Duckett, Harry Brook, Matthew Potts, Jamie Smith, and Olly Stone will be a part of the ODI fixtures.
England Squad for Australia ODIs: Jos Buttler (captain), Jordan Cox, Ben Duckett, Josh Hull, Will Jacks, Jofra Archer, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Matthew Potts, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Jamie Smith, Olly Stone, Reece Topley, John Turner
