LORDING IT ON HIS DEBUT

New-boy Atkinson in seventh heaven as Windies are stunned

- Mike Walters

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.