England set to hand a Test debut to Gus Atkinson against West Indies

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Atkinson has played only 19 first-class matches for Surrey taking 59 wickets at 27
Somerset spinner Bashir is set for first home cap after a successful tour of India

Published: 11:00 EDT, 8 July 2024 | Updated: 13:04 EDT, 8 July 2024

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England are set to hand a Test debut to Surrey fast bowler Gus Atkinson against West Indies at Lord’s on Wednesday - with Somerset spinner Shoaib Bashir in line to win his first cap at home after a successful maiden tour of India.

The 26-year-old Atkinson, who made his international debut in both white-ball formats last September, has played only 19 first-class matches for his county, taking 59 wickets at 27.

And while the selectors are keen for him to add some snarl to his pace, he has leapfrogged Matthew Potts, who enjoyed a successful winter with England Lions in India.

The selection of Atkinson, whose best red-ball figures this season have been three for 40 against Hampshire, means Nottinghamshire’s Dillon Pennington will have to wait for his own debut - though that could come as soon as next week’s second Test in Nottingham, where England will have an extra space to fill because of Jimmy Anderson’s impending retirement.

Meanwhile, the fact that Ben Stokes is fit to bowl again after knee surgery means there is room in the starting XI for Bashir, who picked up five-fors against India at Ranchi and Dharamsala but this season has managed just six Championship wickets at 76, including one game at loan for Worcestershire.

England are set to hand a Test debut to Surrey fast bowler Gus Atkinson against West Indies

Shoaib Bashir in line to win his first cap at home after a successful maiden tour of India

Surrey’s Jamie Smith will also make his Test debut, batting at No 7 and keeping wicket, while Chris Woakes returns for the first time since his starring role in last summer’s Ashes draw.

England team: 1 Zak Crawley, 2 Ben Duckett, 3 Ollie Pope, 4 Joe Root, 5 Harry Brook, 6 Ben Stokes (capt), 7 Jamie Smith (wkt), 8 Chris Woakes, 9 Gus Atkinson, 10 Shoaib Bashir, 11 Jimmy Anderson.

England Cricket