Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

Jamie Smith, Gus Atkinson to debut for England against West Indies

Written by 
Published in Cricket
Monday, 08 July 2024 09:12
England will hand debuts to the Surrey duo of Gus Atkinson and Jamie Smith for the first Test against West Indies at Lord's, which begins on Wednesday.
Chris Woakes also returns to the XI, his first Test appearance since being named player of the series in last summer's Ashes, while offspinner Shoaib Bashir makes his home debut after three Tests in India at the start of the year.

Atkinson, who has made 12 appearances for England in white-ball cricket, was unused on the tour of India but has been earmarked as a long-term pace option, registering in the late 80s and early 90s mph at his most fluent. A breakthrough 2023 summer saw him earn selection for the ODI World Cup, though he was omitted for this summer's T20 World Cup. This season, he has taken 14 County Championship wickets at 29.78 for Surrey, who lead Division One.

Smith, meanwhile, will assume the gloves as England move beyond Ben Foakes and Jonny Bairstow. The 23-year-old has been in fine form across all formats and marked his maiden call-up with his second first-class century of the season. He is currently Surrey's top-scorer with 677 Championship runs at 56.41 with a strike rate of 76.67. He earned two ODI caps against Ireland at the end of last summer and will slot in at No. 7 with Harry Brook returning to the No. 5 position having missed the India series following the death of his grandmother.

Ben Stokes slots between the pair at six, and is back to fulfilling his allrounder duties, which has allowed for the selection of Bashir. After impressing with 17 wickets in India, England underlined their faith in the spinner by selecting him in the squad ahead of Jack Leach, despite the fact Bashir had to move on loan to Worcestershire for first-team opportunities with Leach the No. 1 spinner at Somerset.

Woakes adds to that balance as an option with the bat, and will likely be an ever-present this summer in what is set to be a transitional period for England with the impending retirement of James Anderson.

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

Read 68 times

Soccer

Neymar on latest injury: Nothing more than cramp

Neymar on latest injury: Nothing more than cramp

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsNeymar was not too downcast after being forced to leave Monday's As...

Balotelli booked within 5 minutes of Serie A return

Balotelli booked within 5 minutes of Serie A return

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsMario Balotelli made his first Serie A appearance in four years whe...

How Orlando went from a laughingstock to record holders in the NWSL

How Orlando went from a laughingstock to record holders in the NWSL

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsImagine a cursed franchise or suffering fan base -- say, the Clevel...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

George has 15 points in 'rusty' debut for Sixers

George has 15 points in 'rusty' debut for Sixers

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsPHOENIX -- Paul George is back, this time with the Philadelphia 76e...

Cavs, lone unbeaten in East, reach 8-0 vs. Bucks

Cavs, lone unbeaten in East, reach 8-0 vs. Bucks

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsCLEVELAND -- The win total is growing quickly, and so is the Cavali...

Baseball

Braves RP Jiménez out 8-12 months after surgery

Braves RP Jiménez out 8-12 months after surgery

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsATLANTA -- Braves reliever Joe Jiménez is expected to sit out much...

Peralta picks up option with Padres, Kim declines

Peralta picks up option with Padres, Kim declines

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsSAN ANTONIO -- Left-hander Wandy Peralta exercised his $4.25 millio...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated