Gus Atkinson Throws Down Gauntlet To India Before England’s Woakes Blow

Welcome to England, India. Or astatine least, invited to nan England you mightiness person expected erstwhile rubbing down present astatine nan commencement of June. Cloud cover, stoppages for rain, and seamers probing distant connected a green-tinged aboveground – nan opening time astatine nan Oval was surely a acold outcry from what came before.

The problem for India, 2-1 down successful nan bid and chasing only a stock of nan Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, was that they were nan ones tasked pinch negotiating these caller conditions aft Shubman Gill mislaid his 5th flip successful a row. By stumps, 7.30pm, nan visitors had scrapped their measurement to 204 for six from 64 overs and Gus Atkinson was nan toast of his location ground.

Figures of 2 for 31 from 19 overs did not show nan afloat communicative of Atkinson’s return either. Arguably nan astir important onslaught witnessed came not from his marque of waspish fast-medium but a sparkling run-out of Gill for 21 successful a six-over mini-session betwixt nan day showers. Given nan glowing shape India’s skipper has been successful this series, it felt for illustration a defining moment.

It was a hugely self-inflicted dismissal too, Gill having dropped Atkinson into nan disconnected broadside pinch a protect prod and group disconnected for a azygous that simply ne'er was on. Turning connected his heels but already successful trouble, he could only look connected arsenic Atkinson swooped in, took aim, and threw down nan stumps pinch unerring precision. The look of anguish connected Gill’s look arsenic he walked disconnected was palpable.

Although Gill’s anguish was trumped by that of Chris Woakes precocious connected and what whitethorn good rival it by measurement of significance. Woakes, nan only English seamer to push done each 5 Tests, chased a shot to nan bound only to autumn awkwardly successful nan process. A dislocated near enarthrosis was nan apt upshot, Woakes stepping disconnected successful visible agony and his limb successful a makeshift sling.

Ollie Pope, opinionated successful for nan injured Ben Stokes, now faces nan imaginable of juggling conscionable fresh 3 seamers for nan remainder of nan match. And while Atkinson impressed, pinning Yashasvi Jaiswal lbw for 2 and getting Dhruv Jurel caught successful nan cordon for 19, Pope will request Josh Tongue and Jamie Overton to connection much consistency than they mustered connected time one.

Because arsenic overmuch arsenic England were happy to prime up six wickets, location is simply a lawsuit to opportunity that it should person been more. Lee Fortis, main groundskeeper and scourge of nan tourists successful nan buildup, had near 8mm of writer connected nan Oval transportation – perfect conditions to fastener successful connected a magnitude and fto nan Dukes do its thing. And yet this was thing nan support formed struggled to execute astatine times.

Chris Woakes lands heavy connected his enarthrosis astatine nan boundary. Photograph: Paul Childs/Action Images/Reuters

Although successful nan lawsuit of nan accelerated but bad boy Tongue, possibly this is missing nan point. England for illustration nan constituent of quality he offers and, while he sprayed wides for nosy successful nan morning, his champion remains very bully indeed. Tongue’s 2 dismissals connected nan day, Sai Sudharsan for 38 and Ravindra Jadeja for nine, were some a lawsuit of rip-snorting deliveries being edged behind.

Overton, however, looks a funny action connected a aboveground that mightiness beryllium amended suited to Matthew Potts aliases Sam Cook. While his speeds picked up from immoderate first 80mph agelong hopes, and immoderate plaything was harnessed, figures of nought for 66 were nan anemic nexus successful nan onslaught – a nexus that must beryllium corrected swiftly if Woakes spends nan remainder of nan lucifer connected nan sidelines.

Atkinson appears to person picked up wherever he near disconnected astatine least. His removal of Jaiswal pinch a shot that nipped was besides a notable feat for his Surrey teammate, Pope, who sent a determination upstairs for nan 14th clip arsenic skipper and yet saw 1 spell his way. Going by nan celebrations – Pope beaming, wry smiles successful nan England dressing room – everyone was afloat aware.

Although nan removal of KL Rahul for 14 an hr into play arguably had greater value, specified has been nan right-hander’s proficiency against nan moving shot successful England. Replacing Atkinson from nan Pavilion End aft a tight six-over opening spell, Woakes persuaded Rahul to chop connected to his stumps pinch a spot of nip – moreover if it was ever excessively tight to cut.

In nan end, India were grateful to different knowledgeable campaigner for steering them retired of choppy waters. Recalled aft his omission astatine Old Trafford, Karun Nair turned 153 for six astatine nan autumn of Jurel’s wicket into a perchance promising position pinch a prestigious unbeaten 52 from 98 balls. Support present came from Washington Sundar, who made 19 not out.

England cognize each astir Sundar, of course, but if they tin unfastened up an extremity successful nan greeting past India’s tail begins. But moreover pinch nan forecast group to improve, and pinch it batting conditions, Pope will still look a tricky juggling enactment 2nd clip astir if those fears astir Woakes beryllium accurate.