James Anderson’s Test career has finally come to an end, some 21 years after he made his debut as a young searing quick at Lord’s against Zimbabwe. The 41-year-old received the warmest of applauses from the Lord’s members but in his final Test, England’s most prolific wicket-taker was shown up by two debutants who’ll help herald in the so-called second era of Bazball.
Whilst Anderson finished the second innings with figures of three for 32 from 16 overs, a vintage display, it was 26-year-old Gus Atkinson who stole the limelight with the ball.
The tearaway quick from Surrey appeared in just 19 first-class matches before his Test debut, but quickly showed why the selectors had brought him into the side. After dismissing West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite with his second delivery of the match, Atkinson bowled restrictively as the runs dried up for the tourists, which led to a false shot being drawn from Kirk McKenzie in the debutant’s third over. After 14 deliveries, Atkinson had taken two wickets for no runs.
James Anderson of England leaves the field after his final Test appearance. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
It was a spell that broke open the West Indies batting line-up after they played Anderson and Chris Woakes with a successful caution. It was an impressive start, but after the break came the highlight of Atkinson’s debut when he ripped through the West Indies middle order in a single over, dismissing Alick Athanaze, Jason Holder and Joshua Da Silva in the space of four deliveries.
It is simply unimaginable for anyone to take a triple-wicket maiden let alone a debutant and to do so in Anderson’s last Test is a passing of the baton of sorts. Replacing Anderson, a bowler with 704 Test wickets at an average of 26.45 is going to be near impossible, yet it must be encouraging for the English selectors to see the next generation perform so well, albeit against a batting unit that regularly struggles against the top sides in the Test arena.
Regardless, Atkinson’s 12 for 106 are the second-best figures by an Englishman on debut and the best since Fred Martin’s 12-wicket haul in 1890. He’s already taken more wickets in a match than Anderson ever managed, and you would be right to assume that there’s going to be ample opportunity to add to that tally over the course of the series and the rest of the English summer.
It’s seemingly going to be a good summer for England to give the next generation plenty of reps before they host India and travel to Australia in 2025, and another of their debutants who grasped this opportunity with both hands was Atkinson’s Surrey teammate, Jamie Smith.
The 24-year-old was unnoticeable behind the stumps, generally a good indicator for wicketkeepers, yet he was primarily selected over Surrey teammate Ben Foakes for his ability with the bat. Smith has been in exemplary form for Surrey this season, scoring 677 runs at an average of 56.42, which he carried into his debut, scoring 70 from 119 deliveries.
Despite coming into bat with a considerable lead of 133 runs, Smith took his chance in a low-pressure situation, batting patiently with Joe Root and then Woakes after the former was uncharacteristically bowled by a delicious Gudakesh Motie delivery. Smith batted with care, timed the ball beautifully and his highly watchable technique and style was on full display at Lord’s.
Gus Atkinson celebrates taking the wicket of Kraigg Brathwaite. (Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images)
It wasn’t until he was joined by Shoaib Bashir that Smith demonstrated his remarkable hitting ability, coming down the track to Shamar Joseph and pumping him into the grandstand before a few overs later, launching Jayden Seales out of the ground with a mammoth hit over deep midwicket.
From what we’ve seen so far, this is exactly the type of batter this team would like in the number seven position, someone who is more than capable of batting in a traditional manner, whilst also possessing the ability to be an absolute game-changer.
Smith’s style of play is one that England believe can help them succeed in Australia, and the selection of Atkinson and potential future debutant Dillon Pennington match this thinking. This is a team looking toward the Ashes with the aim of winning or, at the very least, not being embarrassed as they have on their previous three tours down under.
Australia is a tough place to tour, but the best thing England can do in preparation is build a team with the appropriate skills and traits to succeed in such conditions. The hierarchy clearly didn’t think Anderson was up for another tour of Australia, and they’ve rightly or wrongly decided that now is the right time for England’s all-time wicket-taker to retire despite his skills still being extremely useful for bowling in English conditions.
However, Anderson’s retirement gives England another opening in the team to blood some younger players who can help them succeed in the future. With two more Tests against the West Indies and three against Sri Lanka later in the summer, England believed now was the perfect time for Jimmy to pass on the baton, and allow the three lions to herald in the next era.
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