4 things to know about Gus Atkinson: England has unveiled its preliminary 15-player squad for the upcoming ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, and there’s a surprising addition that’s caught the cricketing world’s attention. Gus Atkinson, a lightning-fast quick from Surrey, has earned his first-ever call-up to the England squad. This decision comes in light of his remarkable performances in both the County Championship and The Hundred tournaments. Here are 4 things to know about Gus Atkinson.
4 things to know about Gus Atkinson
#1 Atkinson is a Speed Express Clocking 95 mph in The Hundred
As per the 4 things to know about Gus Atkinson, Atkinson’s impressive selection can be attributed to his standout performances in both the County Championship and The Hundred. His express pace, reaching up to 95 mph, turned heads during The Hundred, where he also notably unsettled Jos Buttler in a thrilling face-off just last week.
Luke Wright, England’s National Selector, voiced his confidence in Atkinson’s potential: “Gus deserves to be in there… He is hugely exciting and has been outstanding, impressing not only in the Hundred but also in the Blast. He’s a real asset for us, and we’re thrilled to give him an opportunity.”
# 2 He Has Played Only 14 First-Class Matches
The 25-year-old Atkinson’s cricket journey has been marked by moments of brilliance marred by injury setbacks, particularly stress fractures. Despite playing just 14 first-class matches, 2 List A games, and 41 T20s, Atkinson’s potential is undeniable.
RELATED ARTICLES: 1) England’s provisional squad for the World Cup 2023
2) 4 things to know about Gus Atkinson
# 3 He is Being Compared to Jofra Archer
In 4 things to know about Gus Atkinson, Atkinson’s selection raises comparisons to Jofra Archer, the formidable pacer who played a pivotal role in England’s triumphant 2019 World Cup campaign. Just as Archer’s pace and impact were the talk of the town back then, Atkinson’s smooth run-up and sharp bouncers offer England a new X-factor as they gear up to defend their title in India.
#4 His First First-Class Prey was Alastair Cook
The first red-ball wicket for Gus Atkinson was Alastair Cook. In the second innings of an August 2020 County Championship game at Chelmsford, the pacer successfully trapped the left-handed opening batter LBW.
Additionally, Cook was one of the prized wickets in Atkinson’s best-ever first-class bowling stats of 6-68. On May 4, 2023, during Surrey’s drawn County Championship match against Essex, the right-arm pacer dismissed Cook for 51.
RELATED ARTICLES: 1) England’s provisional squad for the World Cup 2023
2) 4 things to know about Gus Atkinson
Interestingly, this squad announcement comes with its share of surprises. All-rounder Ben Stokes, who previously announced his retirement from ODI cricket, has reversed his decision and will be making a comeback for the forthcoming four-match ODI series against New Zealand. However, this means that promising young batter Harry Brook and star quick Jofra Archer are not part of the initial 15-member squad.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is not shying away from bold choices. Stokes’ return marks a significant twist, while Archer’s absence from the primary squad places him as a traveling reserve in England’s World Cup plans.
As England prepares for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, the inclusion of Gus Atkinson and Ben Stokes’ surprising return further fuels the excitement surrounding the team’s journey to India.
England’s provisional squad for the World Cup 2023: Jos Buttler (captain), Jonny Bairstow, Sam Curran, Liam Livingstone, Moeen Ali, Gus Atkinson, Dawid Malan, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, David Willey, Mark Wood, Chris Woakes, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, Reece Topley
RELATED ARTICLES: 1) England’s provisional squad for the World Cup 2023
2) 4 things to know about Gus Atkinson
Get ICC World Cup 2023 Live Score & ICC World Cup 2023 Team Squads along with ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 at IceCric.News and Follow for Live Updates – Twitter, Facebook & Instagram.
