AFTER the gaslighting of a general election campaign came the Guslighting at Lord's.
Gus Atkinson will always treasure the memory of destroying West Indies with 7-45, the second-best figures by an England bowler on his Test debut, including a memorable burst of three wickets in four balls.
On the day English cricket rolled out the red carpet for departing Jimmy Anderson, Atkinson stole the show with a magnificent seven.
Nudging 90mph on the speed gun, bowling wicket-to-wicket and hurrying the batsmen like a terrier chasing the postman, Atkinson hustled out the Windies for just 121. By the close, England were 189-3 in reply, already 68 in front, with Zak Crawley's dashing 76 leading the charge.
Anderson's family wife Daniella, daughters Lola and Ruby, father Michael and mum Catherine were afforded the honour of ringing the bell before the start of play.
Then England's greatest bowler of all time passed the torch to Atkinson - and he turned it into a flamethrower.
From 88-3, the Windies lost their last seven wickets for 33 runs in eight overs, as the 26-year-old produced England's best analysis on debut since Dominic Cork's 7-43 at headquarters in 1995.
After Ben Stokes had won the toss, Anderson bowing out in his 188th Test had no joy with the new ball but, as soon as Atkinson entered the attack, England were cooking on Gus.
Esta historia es de la edición July 11, 2024 de Daily Express.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición July 11, 2024 de Daily Express.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
Bazball still the way to go forward
MCCULLUM VINDICATED BY ENGLAND'S STYLE
BULL FIGHT
Verstappen admits their world dominance is over
THE FULL MONTY
Tony to give Glorious start to Goodwood
Can Kemi checkmate her rivals for the Tory crown?
As she bids to succeed Rishi Sunak, biographer Lord Ashcroft reveals how the junior chess champion's early life in Lagos shaped her
Dog walker's family: Mum was brutally taken from us
THE family of a woman attacked while walking her dog have said she was \"brutally taken from us\" after she lost her fight for life.
Israel vows revenge for Hezbollah attack
ISRAEL has warned it plans further bloody retaliation strikes on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon as fears grew of a \"catastrophe beyond belief\" in the Middle East conflict.
Prison guard faces jail over sex acts with inmate in cell
A PRISON guard caught on camera having sex with an inmate faces being locked up herself after pleading guilty to misconduct in a public office.
22 years' jail for plot to kill wife in 1981 to be with lover
A CHEATING husband who hired a hitman to kill his wife four decades ago has been jailed for 22 years.
'Dementia has a terrible effect on those who live with the person every day'
World Cup winner's support for footballers with disease
Puberty blockers ban was legal, court rules
urecting backs judge’s ruling