Gus Atkinson faces in an almost impossible task in 2025: topping his incredible 2024. In his first six months as a Test cricketer, Atkinson took a 12-wicket haul, scored a century, and picked up a hat-trick. Beat that.
But on the evidence of Atkinson’s performance on the opening day for Surrey against Somerset, he is gearing up well for that task against India and Australia in the two biggest Test series on the calendar.
The scoreboard only shows two wickets. There were five for the estimable Jordan Clark, but it was Atkinson who brought threat and class to a Surrey team who have made a middling start to the championship season.
In his first over of the day, a lifter clattered into opener Sean Dickson’s right index finger, forcing him to retire hurt shortly after; he only returned, in serious pain, for the last couple of overs of the day when Somerset were nine down. From there, Archie Vaughan and Tom Lammonby batted bravely until after lunch, when a touch of movement away took Vaughan’s edge, which flew to second slip. From 98 without loss on a green pitch that will likely flatten out, Somerset were pegged back, but were eventually bowled out for 283, thanks to some fireworks from captain Lewis Gregory, who put a late dent in figures of both Atkinson and Clark.
Atkinson’s other wicket was James Rew, playing on when unable to manage the bounce, while Kasey Aldridge was roughed up and struck on the body. Either side of tea, Atkinson looked properly hostile from the Vauxhall End, bowling with a short leg, leg slip, fly slip and another man close at mid-on.
This is the second of two games Atkinson will play for his county before the Test against Zimbabwe on May 22. At Hove last week, he grew into the game. On the first day, as Surrey made an inaccurate start on a flat pitch, he was not handed the new ball – odd, given he fulfils that role for the national team – and was a little wayward, struggling with his front foot. But on day two he battled back well to take four wickets and bowl 32 overs – a sure sign of new-found robustness, given he had played just three limited-overs games in the last four months. Here, he bowled better still and was handed the new ball, too.
Even though Atkinson took a hat-trick in his penultimate Test of the year, in Wellington, he rather limped to the end of 2024. Given his dramatic arrival at Test level, it is easy to forget how little senior cricket he has played, even at 27. On the outfield at lunch, he was presented his Surrey cap – a mark of coming of age at the club – by Alec Stewart, back at work for the first time since the death of his wife Lynn. It was the second award Stewart had handed Atkinson this week, after his Wisden Cricketer of the Year gong at Lord’s on Tuesday.
Injuries and Surrey’s rich resources denied him opportunities early in his career, and five years ago he had never played a first-class game. Indeed, before 2024 the most first-class matches he had played in a calendar year was five. In 2024, he played five before his Test debut, then 11 Tests. Little wonder he looked weary.
England used Atkinson in white-ball cricket this year, when perhaps he would have been best served resting. Since, though, he has had time off and – like Josh Tongue – has strengthened his upper body in search of the durability that will be required this year.
Tongue’s performance as Nottinghamshire had the best of the first day against Sussex made this a very good day for England as they build their attack to face Zimbabwe. Tongue has started the season beautifully, and took five for 44. There was also a return for Leicestershire’s Josh Hull from injury; he took just one wicket, but it was a good one, Gloucestershire’s Australian Cameron Green.
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