Gus Atkinson
{{Short description|English cricketer (born 1998)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Infobox cricketer
| name = Gus Atkinson
| image =
| country = England
| fullname = Angus Alexander Patrick Atkinson
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1998|01|19|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Chelsea, London, England
| height = 6 ft 2 in
| batting = Right-handed
| bowling = Right-arm fast
| role = Bowler
| family = Henry Norris (great-great-grandfather){{cite news |last=Wigmore |first=Tim |date=17 July 2024 |title= How Gus Atkinson overcame death of mother to become England's new star |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/cricket/2024/07/17/gus-atkinson-england-surrey-trent-bridge-family/ |website=The Telegraph |location=London |access-date=21 July 2024}}
| international = true
| internationalspan = 2023–present
| testdebutdate = 10 July
| testdebutyear = 2024
| testdebutagainst = West Indies
| testcap = 714
| lasttestdate = 22 May
| lasttestyear = 2025
| lasttestagainst = Zimbabwe
| odidebutdate = 8 September
| odidebutyear = 2023
| odidebutagainst = New Zealand
| odicap = 270
| lastodidate = 12 February
| lastodiyear = 2025
| lastodiagainst = India
| odishirt = 37
| T20Idebutdate = 1 September
| T20Idebutyear = 2023
| T20Idebutagainst = New Zealand
| T20Icap = 101
| lastT20Idate = 22 January
| lastT20Iyear = 2025
| lastT20Iagainst = India
| club1 = Surrey
| year1 = {{nowrap|2020–present}}
| clubnumber1 = 37
| club2 = Southern Brave
| year2 = 2021
| club3 = Oval Invincibles
| year3 = {{nowrap|2023–present}}
| columns = 4
| column1 = Test
| matches1 = 12
| runs1= 352
| bat avg1= 23.46
| 100s/50s1= 1/0
| top score1= 118
| deliveries1 = 1,968
| wickets1 = 55
| bowl avg1 = 22.30
| fivefor1 = 3
| tenfor1 = 1
| best bowling1 = 7/45
| catches/stumpings1= 5/–
| column2 = ODI
| matches2 = 11
| runs2 = 104
| bat avg2 = 17.33
| 100s/50s2 = 0/0
| top score2 = 38
| deliveries2 = 472
| wickets2 = 13
| bowl avg2 = 40.53
| fivefor2 = 0
| tenfor2 = 0
| best bowling2 = 2/28
| catches/stumpings2 = 1/–
| column3 = T20I
| matches3 = 4
| runs3 = 10
| bat avg3 = 10.00
| 100s/50s3 = 0/0
| top score3 = 8*
| deliveries3 = 65
| wickets3 = 6
| bowl avg3 = 20.33
| fivefor3 = 0
| tenfor3 = 0
| best bowling3 = 4/20
| catches/stumpings3 = 1/–
| column4 = FC
| matches4 = 33
| runs4 = 822
| bat avg4 = 21.63
| 100s/50s4 = 1/3
| top score4 = 118
| deliveries4 = 5,239
| wickets4 = 120
| bowl avg4 = 25.76
| fivefor4 = 4
| tenfor4 = 1
| best bowling4 = 7/45
| catches/stumpings4 = 10/–
| date = 24 May
| year = 2025
| source = http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/1039481.html Cricinfo
}}
Angus Alexander Patrick Atkinson (born 19 January 1998) is an English professional cricketer who plays for Surrey and England.{{Cite web |title=Gus Atkinson |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/1039481.html |website=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=8 August 2020 }} He is a right-arm fast bowler and batsman.
Early life and education
Atkinson was educated at Northcote Lodge, a preparatory school in Wandsworth, London, and Bradfield College, an independent school in Berkshire, England.{{cite web |title=Record Breaking England Test Debut for 'Old Lodger' Gus Atkinson! |url=https://www.broomwood.com/2024/07/10/record-breaking-england-test-debut-for-old-lodger-gus-atkinson/ |website=Broomwood |access-date=23 July 2024 |date=10 July 2024}}{{cite web |title=Old Bradfieldians star in County Cricket |url=https://www.bradfieldcollege.org.uk/blog/bradfieldian_article/old-bradfieldians-star-in-county-cricket/ |website=Bradfield College |access-date=12 July 2024 |date=October 2020}} He has an older sister and younger brother. His mother, Caroline, died at the age of 55 in December 2020 as a result of injuries sustained in a car accident, for which the driver of the other vehicle involved was found responsible and given a prison sentence in 2024.{{cite news |last=Hoult |first=Nick |date=4 September 2024 |title=The fight for justice |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/cricket/2024/09/03/gus-atkinson-driver-killed-mother-car-youssef-berouain/ |department=Sport |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |issue=52663 |pages=1–3 |access-date=4 September 2024}} (Online article, published a day earlier, has a different title).
Domestic career
He made his first-class debut on 8 August 2020, for Surrey in the 2020 Bob Willis Trophy.{{cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/1227599.html |title=South Group, Chelmsford, Aug 8-11 2020, Bob Willis Trophy |access-date=8 August 2020 |work=ESPN Cricinfo}} He made his Twenty20 debut on 28 August 2020, for Surrey in the 2020 t20 Blast.{{cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/1207706.html |title=South Group, Hove, Aug 28 2020, Vitality Blast |accessdate=28 August 2020 |work=ESPN Cricinfo}} He made his List A debut on 22 July 2021, for Surrey in the 2021 Royal London One-Day Cup.{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/1250163.html |title=Scarborough, Jul 22 2021, Royal London One-Day Cup |work=ESPN Cricinfo |access-date=22 July 2021}}
In April 2022, he was bought by the Oval Invincibles for the 2022 season of The Hundred. Atkinson was part of the Surrey team that won the 2022 County Championship. He was retained by the Oval Invincibles for the 2023 season of The Hundred.{{cite web|url=https://www.thehundred.com/teams/oval-invincibles/squad?year=2023 |title=Oval Invincibles 2023 Squad |work=The Hundred |access-date=18 July 2022}}
On 18 September 2023, Atkinson signed a new multi-year contract extension at Surrey.{{cite web |author= |date=18 September 2023 |title=Surrey trio pen new contracts |url=https://www.kiaoval.com/surrey-trio-pen-new-contracts/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230930130650/https://www.kiaoval.com/surrey-trio-pen-new-contracts/ |archive-date=30 September 2023 |website=Surrey County Cricket Club |location=London |access-date=31 August 2024}} In February 2024, it was announced that he had withdrawn from his £95,000 IPL contract with Kolkata Knight Riders after discussion with the England and Wales Cricket Board, who were keen to manage his workload.{{cite news |date=20 February 2024 |title=England quick withdraws from his IPL contract |newspaper=Lancashire Evening Post |page=34}}
International career
Atkinson got his first senior England call-up on 16 August 2023 for the ODI and T20I series against New Zealand.{{cite web |author= |date=16 August 2023 |title=First England call up for Atkinson |url=https://www.kiaoval.com/first-england-call-up-for-atkinson/ |website=Surrey County Cricket Club |location=London |access-date=16 August 2023}} He made his T20I debut on 1 September 2023 against New Zealand in the second T20I of the four match series. During that match he took figures of 4/20 which were the best by an England men's bowler on T20I debut.{{cite web |last=Gardner |first=Alan |date=1 September 2023 |title=Atkinson four-for condemns New Zealand after Bairstow, Brook tee off |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/new-zealand-in-england-2023-1336039/england-vs-new-zealand-2nd-t20i-1336049/match-report |website=ESPNcricinfo}}
In September 2023, Atkinson was named in the England squad for the 2023 Cricket World Cup in India.{{cite web |author= |date=17 September 2023 |title=England squad for ICC Men's Cricket World Cup finalised |url=https://www.ecb.co.uk/news/3688284/england-squad-for-icc-mens-cricket-world-cup-finalised |website=ECB |location=London}}
In December 2023, Atkinson received his first call-up to the England Test squad for their tour of India.{{cite web |author= |date=11 December 2023 |title=England Men's squad for tour of India |url=https://www.ecb.co.uk/news/3818982/england-men-squad-for-india-test-tour-announced |website=ECB |location=London |access-date=11 December 2023}} On 30 June 2024, Atkinson was named in the Test squad for the West Indies tour.{{cite web |last=Gardner |first=Alan |date=30 June 2024 |title=Jamie Smith, Dillon Pennington win first England Test call-ups |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/jamie-smith-dillon-pennington-first-england-test-call-ups-1441558 |website=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=30 June 2024}}{{cite web |author= |title=Squad announced for England Men's first two Test matches versus West Indies |date=30 June 2024 |url=https://www.ecb.co.uk/news/4047095/squad-announced-for-england-mens-first-two-test-matches-versus-west-indies |website=ECB |location=London |access-date=10 July 2024}} He made his debut in the first Test at Lord's on 10 July 2024, taking seven wickets in the first innings{{cite web |last=Dollard |first=Rory |date=10 July 2024 |title=Gus Atkinson upstages retiring James Anderson as England skittle West Indies |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/cricket/james-anderson-england-west-indies-jimmy-surrey-b2577462.html
|website=The Independent |location=London |access-date=10 July 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://metro.co.uk/2024/07/10/england-debutant-almost-breaks-128-year-record-west-indies-21201084/|title=England debutant Gus Atkinson almost breaks 128-year record as he rips through West Indies|work=The Metro|date=10 July 2024 |accessdate=10 July 2024}}{{cite web |last=Shemilt |first=Stephan |date=10 July 2024 |title=Atkinson's seven puts England on top against Windies |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/articles/cv2g9wlg4yqo |website=BBC Sport |location=London |access-date=10 July 2024}} and five in the second. His match figures of 12/106 were the best by an England debutant in 134 years as he made it onto the Lord's honours boards.{{cite web |last=Shemilt |first=Stephan |date=12 July 2024 |title=Anderson ends England career in win over Windies |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/articles/cm5219z2dd9o |website=BBC Sport |location=London |access-date=12 July 2024}}{{cite web |last=Gardner |first=Alan |date=12 July 2024 |title=Anderson bows out with 704 as Atkinson's 12 helps England rout WI on day three |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/west-indies-in-england-2024-1385669/england-vs-west-indies-1st-test-1385691/match-report-3 |website=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=12 July 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://m.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/131028/debutant-atkinson-delivers-comprehensive-win-in-andersons-swansong|title=Debutant Atkinson delivers comprehensive win in Anderson's swansong|publisher=Cricbuzz|accessdate=12 July 2024}}
He scored his maiden first-class century in the first innings of the second Test against Sri Lanka at Lord's on 30 August 2024, reaching his hundred off 103 balls.{{cite web |last=Miller |first=Andrew |date=30 August 2024 |title=Kamindu fights for Sri Lanka but England seize control after Atkinson hundred |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/sri-lanka-in-england-2024-1385672/england-vs-sri-lanka-2nd-test-1385695/match-report-2 |website=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=30 August 2024}} In doing so, he became only the sixth player to have taken five wickets in an innings, ten wickets in a match, and scored a century at the ground.{{cite news |last=Burnton |first=Simon |date=31 August 2024 |title=Nerves, what nerves? Atkinson rattles to a place in Lord's history even quicker than Botham |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/article/2024/aug/30/nerves-what-nerves-gus-atkinson-eases-to-a-place-in-lords-history |department=Sport |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |page=11 |access-date=31 August 2024}}(Online article, published a day earlier, has a different title).{{cite news |last=Wigmore |first=Tim |date=31 August 2024 |title='Surreal' day puts Atkinson in elite club |department=Sport |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |issue=52660 |location=London |pages=1,9}} In terms of deliveries faced, the latter was also the sixth fastest there in Test history.{{cite web |last=Dobell |first=George |author-link=George Dobell |date=30 August 2024 |title=Gus Atkinson hundred offers England unanticipated options |url=https://www.thecricketer.com/Topics/eng-v-sl-premium/gus_atkinson_hundred_offers_england_unanticipated_options.html |url-access=subscription |website=The Cricketer |location=London |access-date=31 August 2024}} He went on to take five wickets in Sri Lanka's second innings, becoming only the third England player (the first since Ian Botham in 1984) to achieve this and score a hundred in the same Test match.{{cite news |last=Hoult |first=Nick |date=2 September 2024 |title=Atkinson sets up England for summer clean sweep |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/cricket/2024/09/01/england-v-sri-lanka-live-score-latest-second-test-day-four/ |url-access=subscription |department=Sport |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |issue=52661 |pages=10–11 |access-date=2 September 2024}} (Online article, published a day earlier, has a different title).
In December 2024, Atkinson bowled a hat-trick in a Test against New Zealand, becoming the first Englishman in all Tests since 2017 to do so.{{Cite web |date=2024-12-06 |title=New Zealand vs England: Gus Atkinson takes hat-trick in second Test in Wellington |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/articles/cj9001l2z3lo |access-date=2024-12-07 |website=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}}
Awards
Atkinson was named England player of the year at the 2024 Cricket Writers' Club Awards.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/articles/cp9z2l38y07o|title=Atkinson & Ecclestone win Cricket Writers' Club awards|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=5 November 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/gus-atkinson-wins-bob-willis-trophy-after-stunning-test-summer-1458525|title=Gus Atkinson wins Bob Willis Trophy after stunning Test summer|publisher=ESPNCricinfo|accessdate=5 November 2024}} He was named as one of the 2025 Wisden Cricketers of the Year.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/articles/cwyqngl1ep1o|title=England trio among Wisden cricketers of the year|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=23 April 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/cricket/wisden-cricketers-of-the-year-2025-atkinson-smith-ecclestone-b2736725.html|title=Gus Atkinson, Jamie Smith and Sophie Ecclestone named among Wisden Cricketers of the Year|publisher=The Independent|accessdate=23 April 2025}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{cricinfo|id=1039481}}
{{England 2023 Cricket World Cup squad}}
{{Surrey County Cricket Club squad}}
{{Oval Invincibles squad}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Atkinson, Gus}}
Category:England Test cricketers
Category:England One Day International cricketers
Category:England Twenty20 International cricketers
Category:Cricketers from the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
Category:People from Chelsea, London
Category:Oval Invincibles cricketers
Category:People educated at Bradfield College
Category:Cricketers who have taken five wickets on Test debut
Category:Cricketers at the 2023 Cricket World Cup