Gus Atkinson latest debutant to thrive under Ben Stokes – this is why

Atkinson’s pace, reaching 90.4mph, was no surprise; indeed, he is a little slower than he was hyped last summer, after being clocked at 95mph on some apparently over-exuberant speedguns during the Hundred. But he showed even greater skill than envisaged.

For all his differences as a bowler to Anderson, Atkinson has learned from one of the Lancastrian’s most venomous balls – the wobble seam, which can move in either direction after pitching. The ball induced left-handers Kirk McKenzie and Alick Athanaze to edge to the slips, succumbing to deliveries that moved down the slope from Atkinson’s over the wicket line, a contrast to the modern trend of bowling around the wicket.

Greeting Alzarri Joseph by rattling his helmet first ball was a graphic illustration of Atkinson’s pace. Yet much more is required to thrive in Test cricket. As Atkinson settled into a good length from his 6ft 2in height, avoiding becoming too reliant upon his short ball, his method suggested a bowler who can thrive against much less hospitable batting. Atkinson’s essential approach, indeed, was not far removed from that of Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, who largely eschew swing in favour of pounding out a length relentlessly and generating seam. These men, rather than the fool’s gold of being cast as an enforcer, should be Atkinson’s template.

The crowd had packed into Lord’s to acclaim England’s 613th Test cricketer. A few minutes before three o’clock, the long room stood to celebrate the 714th. Both men are undemonstrative; you suspect that Atkinson will, like Anderson, have to get used to the attention.

Wicket-by-wicket breakdown as Atkinson explodes onto Test scene

Wicket one: Kraigg Brathwaite b Atkinson 6

Atkinson is not a particularly demonstrative type. When he replaced Anderson from the Pavilion End, with West Indies 34-0 after 10 overs, Atkinson showed no sign of the nervous tension sometimes associated with debutants, beginning with an 89mph delivery on off stump. His second ball was not quite as good, a little wide. But as Kraigg Brathwaite moved to cut the ball, he was suckered by Lord’s low bounce, and inside-edged the ball onto his stumps. A contented smile revealed that Atkinson had reduced the gap with Anderson’s Test wicket tally to a mere 699.