London, July 7: In the wake of a crushing 336-run defeat to India at Edgbaston, England have strengthened their bowling arsenal by drafting in fast bowler Gus Atkinson for the upcoming third Test at Lord’s, starting Thursday, July 10.
The 27-year-old Surrey pacer returns to the Test squad after missing the opening two matches of the series due to a hamstring injury sustained during England’s summer opener against Zimbabwe.
His inclusion comes as England look to regroup following a humbling loss in Birmingham that saw India level the five-match series 1-1.
Atkinson, who made his Test debut at Lord’s last year against the West Indies, enjoyed a sensational start to his red-ball career, claiming 12 wickets in his maiden match and finishing the summer with 32 scalps in six outings.
He has taken 55 wickets in 12 Tests at an impressive average of 22.30. His most recent appearance came against Zimbabwe last month, where he picked up three wickets.
With Atkinson’s return, England now have a plethora of pace options at their disposal. Jofra Archer, who was named in the squad for the Edgbaston Test but was left out of the final XI, remains in contention, along with fellow pacers Josh Tongue, Brydon Carse, and Chris Woakes.
All-rounders Jamie Overton and Jacob Bethell, and seamer Sam Cook, round out the home side’s pace department.
Edgbaston Nightmare Forces England into Tactical Rethink
England’s decision to recall Atkinson follows a disappointing display from their seamers at Edgbaston, where they failed to make inroads on a flat surface.
India’s batters amassed more than 400 runs in three out of four innings so far in the series, consistently outclassing the English attack.
Josh Tongue has been the most effective of England’s bowlers with 11 wickets at 33.63, while skipper Ben Stokes trails with six at 35.50.
India’s dominance was underlined by captain Shubman Gill, who scored a combined 430 runs in the Edgbaston Test, propelling his side to their largest away win by runs in Test history.
England’s bowlers toiled without reward, prompting a selection shake-up ahead of what is expected to be a pivotal Test at the Home of Cricket.
With Atkinson now in the mix, England will hope for renewed firepower and sharper execution as they aim to regain the lead in what has quickly become a fiercely contested series.
As the series heads to the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground, all eyes will be on how England respond to the Edgbaston setback. The inclusion of Gus Atkinson offers them a proven wicket-taker with the ability to unsettle batters on helpful conditions.
However, with India riding high on confidence and momentum, the hosts will need more than just squad changes—they’ll need intent, discipline, and a tactical reset.
With the series finely poised at 1-1, the third Test promises high drama and could prove decisive in shaping the narrative of this compelling contest.
England’s squad for the Lord’s Test:
Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jamie Smith, Ben Stokes (c), Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, Shoaib Bashir, Jofra Archer, Jamie Overton, Gus Atkinson, Jacob Bethell, Sam Cook. (Agencies)
