Gus Atkinson Wins Bob Willis Trophy as England's Player of the Year

Gus Atkinson Wins Bob Willis Trophy as England’s Player of the Year

Gus Atkinson, the rising star of English cricket, has been crowned the Bob Willis Trophy winner as England’s Player of the Year. The 23-year-old all-rounder had a remarkable debut Test summer, amassing 34 wickets and scoring his maiden century.

Atkinson’s impressive performances earned him the prestigious award, voted for by members of the Cricket Writers’ Club. The award ceremony, held at the Kia Oval, also recognized other outstanding cricketers.

Shoaib Bashir, the 20-year-old spinner, was named NV Play Young Player of the Year. Bashir has rapidly ascended to become England’s first-choice spinner, claiming three Test five-fors in the past year.

Sophie Ecclestone, the world’s leading female spinner, won the JM Finn Women’s Cricket Award. Ryana MacDonald-Gay, a promising all-rounder, was voted Emerging Cricketer.

Liam Dawson, who was recently named the Professional Cricketers’ Association men’s player of the year, claimed the County Championship prize.

Atkinson expressed his gratitude for the award, saying, “I was just hoping to make my England Test debut, and to have the summer that I’ve had, it’s a huge honor and to get this award at the end of it tops it off.”

Bashir, who has made a meteoric rise in the past year, said, “Two years ago, I didn’t have a county. It’s been really special. With a lot of hard work, I’m thankful to be playing for my country. Long may it continue.”

Other award winners included Brendon Parr, who received the Lord’s Taverners charity’s Disability Cricketer of the Year award. James Anderson and the cast of Tailenders won the Peter Smith Award for outstanding presentation of cricket to the public. David Kynaston and Harry Ricketts won the Derek Hodgson Cricket Book of the year for “Richie Benaud’s Blue Suede Shoes.”

Cricket Writers’ Club chair Dean Wilson praised the award winners, saying, “Huge congratulations to all our award winners, reflecting another terrific year of cricket for all members of the media to cover.”

England's Fast-Bowling Stocks on the Rise Ahead of Ashes Tour

England’s Fast-Bowling Stocks on the Rise Ahead of Ashes Tour

England’s fast-bowling stocks are on the rise, according to James Anderson, who believes the team is developing a “battery” of quicks ahead of next winter’s Ashes tour.

Anderson, who has been working as England’s fast-bowling coach since his retirement in July, has been impressed by the emergence of a new generation of seam bowlers.

“The list is not endless, but it feels like it is growing and growing,” Anderson said. “We’ve got the likes of Woody and Jofra [to come back in] but also Olly Stone and Josh Tongue. It feels like there’s loads of guys coming through — Josh Hull as well, who we think has got a good future.”

Anderson’s comments come after a promising start to the Test series in Pakistan, where Gus Atkinson has taken 38 wickets at 21.86 in his first seven Tests. Brydon Carse also impressed on debut in Multan last week with his speed, skill, and stamina.

“Atkinson seems to rise to every challenge that’s put in front of him,” Anderson said. “Brydon was outstanding… To bowl 90mph in that heat, pretty consistently, was an amazing effort. He was accurate, he bowled good short stuff when we needed him to do that, and he bowls wicket-taking balls – and that’s what we’re after, as a bowling group.”

England are missing Mark Wood in Pakistan due to his elbow injury, while they still hope that Jofra Archer might return to Test cricket next year after a three-year absence.

“We’ve got a lot of options there,” Anderson said. “It is really exciting for an England group at the minute, thinking of what we have ahead with India next summer, then Australia, and then going forward over the next three years.”

Anderson’s involvement with England’s fast bowlers is officially as a consultant coach for their winter Test tours to Pakistan and New Zealand, with his longer-term future with the team unclear. However, he left open the possibility of extending his role further down the line, potentially including next winter’s Ashes tour.

“I’m really enjoying it,” Anderson said. “We have an amazing coaching group who have been really helpful. I’ve not officially done this job before, but I feel like it’s not far off where I was for the last few years of my career: trying to be there for bowlers, help them as much as possible, come up with ideas when we’re in the field. It’s been great… so far, so good.”

Gus Atkinson Withdrawn from England ODI Squad for Workload Management

Gus Atkinson Withdrawn from England ODI Squad for Workload Management

England’s fast-bowling sensation Gus Atkinson has been withdrawn from the 50-over squad for the upcoming series against Australia due to workload management concerns. Atkinson’s impressive debut summer, where he claimed 34 wickets in six Tests, has prompted the England management to prioritize his long-term fitness.

During the Sri Lanka series, Atkinson’s pace noticeably declined, and he experienced a tight quad on day three at The Oval. Despite being deemed fit enough to bowl in the fourth innings, the management has opted to rest him for the ODIs against Australia.

Olly Stone has been called up to replace Atkinson in the ODI squad. England’s busy schedule, which includes a three-Test tour of Pakistan and a three-Test tour of New Zealand later this year, has necessitated careful player management.

England’s stand-in Test captain, Ollie Pope, expressed confidence in Atkinson’s recovery and emphasized the importance of player management. “He’s got a couple weeks off now to refresh and move forward,” Pope said. “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.”

The short turnaround before England’s winter touring commitments and the packed schedule of six more Tests before Christmas have made player management a top priority for the ECB. Five players involved against Sri Lanka, including Harry Brook, Ben Duckett, Josh Hull, Matt Potts, and Jamie Smith, have also been included in the ODI squad.

Pope expressed confidence in the team’s motivation for the Pakistan tour, where Ben Stokes is expected to return as captain. “Pulling an England shirt on is the greatest honor, so I don’t think there needs to be much more motivation,” Pope said. “We love touring as a team and everything’s a new, exciting challenge.”

Gus Atkinson Makes Unprecedented Impact in Debut Test Summer for England

Gus Atkinson Makes Unprecedented Impact in Debut Test Summer for England

England’s Test captain, Ben Stokes, has hailed the remarkable impact made by Gus Atkinson in his debut Test summer. Atkinson, a fast bowler, has taken 30 wickets and scored a maiden Test century at Lord’s, earning him the Player of the Series award against West Indies.

Stokes believes Atkinson’s success is a testament to his talent and the team’s belief in him. “I earmarked him as someone I thought could be successful at Test cricket on the India tour even though he didn’t play a game,” Stokes said. “I watched him train for basically two months, and he bowls at a high pace and is a very skillful bowler.”

Atkinson’s batting ability has also impressed Stokes. “Seeing him bat before, I knew he had potential, and that 100 he got at Lord’s, to say I wasn’t surprised is a bit of an overstatement, but I have always known he has talent with the bat,” Stokes said.

Stokes believes Atkinson’s success is a result of the team’s encouragement to express himself. “If you see someone with a bit of talent, with the skillset and armoury he has as a player, and tell them to go out and express themselves and be who they want to be, it is amazing what results you can get from that,” Stokes said.

England are looking to complete a clean sweep of their Test matches this summer when they face Sri Lanka in the final match of their series starting at The Oval on Friday. Stokes, who is recuperating from a hamstring injury, believes the side has it in them to complete a winning clean sweep.

“It would be great to finish off the summer with another win and say we have won all six games we have had this summer,” Stokes said. “A summer of Test cricket is hard, six games is a lot. We feel like we have been pretty compact and there hasn’t been too much break between the games.”

“Winning six Test matches in one summer is no mean feat, so it would be great to finish off the summer in the last match against Sri Lanka with a win,” Stokes concluded.

Joe Root Extends Lead as World's Top Test Batter

Joe Root Extends Lead as World’s Top Test Batter

Joe Root’s exceptional batting form has propelled him to the summit of the ICC Test Batter Rankings, extending his lead over New Zealand’s Kane Williamson. Root’s consecutive centuries have solidified his position as the world’s top batter, with a 63-point advantage over Williamson.

In the latest rankings update, Gus Atkinson’s all-around brilliance against Sri Lanka has earned him significant gains. Atkinson’s century and five-wicket haul at Lord’s have elevated him into the top 20 all-rounders and top 30 bowlers.

Despite Sri Lanka’s series defeat to England, several players have made positive strides in the rankings. Kamindu Mendis’ half-centuries have moved him up 11 spots to 25th, while Asitha Fernando’s eight-wicket performance has propelled him into the top ten bowlers for the first time.

Bangladesh’s clean sweep of Pakistan has resulted in several Tigers making gains. Litton Das’ century in the first Test has pushed him up 12 places to 15th in the batting rankings. Mehidy Hasan Miraz’s all-around contributions have seen him rise to 7th in the all-rounders list. Hasan Mahmud and Nahid Rana have also achieved career-best rankings in bowling.

In the shortest format, Nicolas Pooran’s impressive knock against South Africa has moved him up to eighth in the T20I Batting Rankings. Shai Hope’s consistent performances have earned him a 32-spot jump to 40th. Protea Aiden Markram has also joined Pooran in the top 10.

American all-rounder Harmeet Singh has made significant strides in the bowling rankings, jumping 48 spots. He has also climbed 19 spots to 40th in the All-Rounder Rankings.

Gus Atkinson's All-Round Brilliance Secures England's Series Win

Gus Atkinson’s All-Round Brilliance Secures England’s Series Win

England’s Gus Atkinson emerged as a true all-rounder in the recently concluded Test series against Sri Lanka, etching his name on all of Lord’s honours boards. His exceptional performance played a pivotal role in England’s 2-0 series victory.

In the first Test at Lord’s, Atkinson’s century and five-wicket haul were instrumental in England’s 190-run triumph. Batting alongside Joe Root, Atkinson scored a rapid 118 off 115 balls, including 14 fours and four sixes. His aggressive batting helped England post a formidable 427 runs in their first innings.

With the ball, Atkinson proved equally devastating. He claimed 5/62 in Sri Lanka’s first innings, including the wickets of Dimuth Karunaratne and Angelo Mathews. His ability to swing the ball both ways and generate pace troubled the Sri Lankan batsmen.

In the second innings, Atkinson continued to impress with the bat. He scored 50 off 62 balls, helping England set a challenging target of 483 runs for Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka showed some fight in their chase, with half-centuries from Karunaratne, Dinesh Chandimal, and Dhananjaya de Silva. However, Atkinson’s bowling brilliance proved too much for them. He claimed another five-wicket haul, finishing with figures of 5/62.

Atkinson’s all-round performance earned him the ‘Player of the Match’ award. He became the first England player since Ian Botham in 1986 to score a century and take five wickets in the same Test at Lord’s.

Speaking after the match, Atkinson expressed his delight at his achievements. “It was special for me to get on all of Lord’s honours boards and bat with Joe Root in the first innings,” he said. “It will take a while to sink in.”

Atkinson’s performance has solidified his place in the England Test team. His ability to contribute with both bat and ball makes him a valuable asset to the side.

England Thrash Sri Lanka by 190 Runs, Atkinson Takes Five Wickets

England Thrash Sri Lanka by 190 Runs, Atkinson Takes Five Wickets

England’s Gus Atkinson continued his remarkable Lord’s legacy, claiming five wickets as the hosts thrashed Sri Lanka by 190 runs in the second Test on Sunday. This emphatic victory secured an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

Sri Lanka faced an insurmountable task of chasing down a record-breaking 483 in the fourth innings. Despite valiant efforts from Dinesh Chandimal (58), Dimuth Karunaratne (55), and captain Dhananjaya de Silva (50), they were dismissed for 292 after tea on the fourth day.

Atkinson, who had earlier scored his maiden first-class century in England’s first innings, led the bowling attack with an impressive 5-62. His performance earned him a fifth mention on the Lord’s dressing room honors boards in just his second Test at the iconic venue.

Atkinson’s heroics made him only the third England cricketer after Tony Greig and Ian Botham to score a century and take five wickets in an innings of the same Test. He also joined India’s Vinoo Mankad and Botham as the only players to achieve this feat at Lord’s.

The 26-year-old Surrey paceman’s latest impressive return helped England seal a seventh successive win over Sri Lanka. This victory followed their five-wicket success in the first Test at Old Trafford.

“To get on both honors boards is incredible,” Atkinson said after the match. “It will take a while to sink in.”

This game was also a personal triumph for England captain Joe Root. For the first time in his 145 Test matches, Root scored centuries in both innings (143 and 103), setting a new record of 34 Test centuries by an England batsman.

Sri Lanka have little time to regroup before the third Test at The Oval, which starts on Friday. De Silva admitted that he had made a mistake in opting to field on a good batting pitch after winning the toss.

“Definitely. I got it wrong,” he told the BBC. “We have got to improve on the first innings whether we bat or bowl first, that’s what I will be telling my boys is that we’ve got to start better.”

Sri Lanka resumed Sunday on 53-2, with the odds stacked against them. However, Root dropped a tough chance to dismiss Karunaratne, who went on to score a half-century.

Olly Stone, in his first Test for three years, dismissed Karunaratne shortly before lunch. Chandimal counter-attacked with a quickfire fifty, but Atkinson had him caught at short leg.

Kamindu Mendis, who had scored a century in the first Test, fell for just four on Sunday. De Silva and Milan Rathnayake were also dismissed by Atkinson, who completed his five-wicket haul.

Chris Woakes had the final say when Lahiru Kumara holed out to Stone at mid-on.

England Dominate Sri Lanka on Day 4 of Lord's Test

England Dominate Sri Lanka on Day 4 of Lord’s Test

England’s dominance continued on Day 4 of the second Test against Sri Lanka at Lord’s Cricket Ground, London. After posting a mammoth 344 in their first innings, England dismissed Sri Lanka for 135 and enforced the follow-on.

In their second innings, Sri Lanka lost two early wickets, leaving them with a daunting task of chasing down 430 runs with just eight wickets in hand. Gus Atkinson, who has been a revelation for England this series, claimed the wicket of Dimuth Karunaratne in the second innings, adding to his tally of three wickets in the match.

England’s batting performance was led by Joe Root, who scored a magnificent 186 in the first innings. Jonny Bairstow also contributed with a valuable 111, while Ben Stokes chipped in with 56.

Sri Lanka’s bowlers struggled to contain England’s batsmen, with only Lasith Embuldeniya managing to take more than one wicket. The Sri Lankan batsmen, on the other hand, failed to put up any significant resistance, with only Angelo Mathews (49) and Niroshan Dickwella (35) offering some resistance.

With Sri Lanka facing an uphill battle to save the match, England will be confident of wrapping up the contest on Day 4. The hosts need just eight more wickets to secure victory and take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.

Gus Atkinson Joins Elite Club with Lord's Century and 10-Wicket Haul

Gus Atkinson Joins Elite Club with Lord’s Century and 10-Wicket Haul

England’s Gus Atkinson has etched his name into the annals of Lord’s history by becoming only the second player to achieve both a Test century and a 10-wicket haul at the iconic venue in the same season.

Atkinson, 26, followed up his match-winning 118 with the bat on Day 2 of the second Test against Sri Lanka with a five-wicket haul on Day 3. He is now part of an exclusive club that includes Gubby Allen, Keith Miller, Ian Botham, Stuart Broad, and Chris Woakes.

Atkinson’s bowling performance was as impressive as his batting. He bowled with great accuracy and control, consistently finding the right line and length to trouble the Sri Lankan batsmen. He dismissed Dimuth Karunaratne, Nishan Madushka, and Asitha Fernando to put England in a commanding position.

Sri Lanka’s only resistance came from Angelo Mathews, who scored a gritty 52. However, Atkinson’s relentless pressure eventually proved too much, and he was caught behind off the bowling of Chris Woakes.

Atkinson’s heroics have put England on the verge of a series victory. They need just four more wickets to secure a 2-0 lead and retain the Pataudi Trophy.

Gus Atkinson Ruled Out of Hundred Final for England Test Duty

Gus Atkinson Ruled Out of Hundred Final for England Test Duty

Gus Atkinson, the standout performer in England’s recent ODI series against West Indies, will miss the final of the men’s Hundred tournament due to his unavailability for the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka. Atkinson, who claimed 22 wickets in his debut series and was named Player of the Series, has only featured once for Oval Invincibles this year.

Invincibles’ captain Sam Billings expressed disappointment over Atkinson’s absence but acknowledged the ECB’s cautious approach to player availability following Ben Stokes’ hamstring injury. Saqib Mahmood, who has been in impressive form throughout the tournament, will replace Atkinson in the side.

The Invincibles will also be without Spencer Johnson due to injury, but Tom Curran will return after being rested in the previous match. The ECB is taking a cautious approach to England players’ availability, with Chris Woakes already withdrawn from the tournament. However, Jamie Smith, Ben Duckett, and Jordan Cox will be available for the weekend’s matches ahead of the first Test.

Billings emphasized the importance of playing in the Hundred final for young players like Cox, who will gain valuable experience in front of a packed Lord’s crowd. Jofra Archer, who has been carefully managed due to previous injuries, is expected to be available for both the eliminator and final if Southern Brave qualify.

In the women’s Hundred, Chamari Athapaththu will be unavailable for the Invincibles in their eliminator against London Spirit due to her commitments with Sri Lanka’s ODI squad in Ireland. Megan Schutt, the Invincibles’ fourth overseas player, is likely to feature in her place.

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