by Mick the Ram

The West Indies received something of a reality check in terms of Test Match cricket when they were comprehensively beaten by England at Lords by an innings and 114 runs, before lunch on the third day.

Much of the attention surrounding the fixture centred around Jimmy Anderson, who was making his final test appearance after a fantastic 21-year career.

However, he was overshadowed by a player making his debut with Surrey quickie Gus Atkinson taking an incredible 12 wickets in the match.

Anderson had the chance to take the final wicket of the game but to everyone’s astonishment, he spilled a simple caught and bowled and it was left to Atkinson to end a difficult few days for the West Indies.

They will need to improve and improve fast if they are to avoid similar outcomes in the other two Tests coming up later in the month, starting at Trent Bridge next week.

Responding to a royally difficult task

Taking over from Jimmy Anderson is a thankless task as he is regarded as cricketing royalty, but Gus Anderson certainly made an impressive first go at it. He has been around the England camp for a while now, but finally got his chance in this Lords Test.

Naturally Anderson took the new ball on Day One and West Indies openers Kraigg Brathwaite and Mikyle Louis were relatively untroubled, but that all changed when Atkinson was introduced to bowl in the 11th over of the day.

To hot to handle

His first delivery was clocked at 89mph – significantly faster than anything previously sent down. The second ball of similar velocity saw the West Indies skipper drag the ball into his stumps and it was something of a precession from that point onwards.

He added the wicket of Kirk McKenzie, drawn into an edge to second slip in his third over and when rested after his first spell in Test cricket, he had figures of 2-2, with the two runs conceded coming from a misfield. 

Triple whammy

Immediately after lunch he was handed the ball again and his response was even more spectacular as he produced a remarkable triple-wicket maiden.

First of all Alick Athanaze tickled one to first slip, before he squared-up Jason Holder who was held at third slip for a golden duck. Joshua da Silva prevented Atkinson becoming only the fourth man to take a hat-trick on Test debut, but the very next ball he inside-edged to give Jamie Smith – also making his Test debut – his first catch as a Test keeper.

Best for nearly thirty years

It was possibly fitting that Anderson took the last wicket, as the West Indies were dismissed for just 121, but the spotlight had well and truly shifted to Atkinson. He ended with magnificent figures of 7-45, which were the best by an England bowler on debut for 29 years.

Name on the board

At Lords there is a famous honours board and his name was on it before the day was out. Full of emotion and a little bewildered he said: “I walked in after and the board is right where I’m sitting, so it’s very special to see it up there; I’m very proud, I don’t think it’s really sunk in yet.”

More was still to come in the West Indies second innings, from the 26-year-old who in cricketing terms is something of a late developer. He did not make his Surrey debut until the age of 22 and this is the first time he has played a first-class match at Lord’s.

Five half-centuries set England up nicely

England set about the West Indies bowlers with half-centuries for Zak Crawley, 76; Ollie Pope, 57; Joe Root, 86; Harry Brook 50, and a great knock of 70 in his first Test Match innings.

They were bowled out for 371, giving them a lead of 250 and many believed that would be enough to mean they would not need to bat a second time.

Favourable conditions

There may have been a feeling that England had had the rub of the green in terms of conditions, and there could be no denying that the ball moved around a lot in the first two sessions.

Additionally, when they batted it was in glorious sunshine, but there was still a lack of discipline and confidence shown by the West Indies batters and bowlers.

In all sorts of trouble

It soon became clear that the match was not going to go the distance as half the West Innings side were already back in the pavilion as Atkinson ran in for the last over of Day Two.

He produced a beauty to end Jason Holder’s resistance – a sharp bouncer which was fended to short leg, and at 79-6 it was effectively game over.

Missed opportunity for Anderson

A few lofty blows extended the morning session on Day three, but most in the crowd were hoping Anderson might have the fairytale ending and clinch victory with the last wicket.

He should have done so too, but inexplicably dropped a straightforward catch off his own bowling and instead watched on as that man Atkinson wrapped up proceedings with his fifth wicket, to end with 5-61 and match figures of 12-106.

Typical of the man, Anderson was the first to go over and congratulate him on becoming the first Englishman in 48 years to take 10 wickets on debut, and the first on home soil since the first summer after the Second World War, way back 1946. For Anderson’s part he closed with 704 wickets and a host of memories.

Vast improvement required

West Indies will be smarting after what can only be described as a drubbing. Mikyle Louis showed potential on his debut, whilst Jayden Seales can be pleased with his 4 wickets.

Gudakesh Motie bowled nicely, especially a wonderful delivery that accounted for Root when the England man was well set; but apart from that everyone will have to significantly improve if they are to avoid more heavy defeats at the two remaining tests, in Nottingham and Birmingham.