December 14, 2024: Gus Atkinson continued his meteoric rise in Test cricket during the third Test against New Zealand in Hamilton, joining an exclusive club of bowlers with a remarkable achievement. On the opening day of the match, Atkinson played a pivotal role in breaking New Zealand’s momentum and reducing them from a solid position to one where they were under pressure.
Atkinson’s first major contribution came when he dismissed Will Young, forcing an outside edge that was sharply caught by Harry Brook at second slip, breaking the 105-run opening partnership. Later in the day, Atkinson struck again, dismissing Daryl Mitchell after a well-timed diving catch by England’s captain, Ben Stokes.
However, Atkinson wasn’t finished. As New Zealand sought to mount a comeback through the partnership of Mitchell Santner and Tim Southee, Atkinson played a crucial role in stalling their progress. Southee, who was playing his farewell Test match, had a brief but explosive cameo, hitting three sixes in 10 deliveries. But Atkinson had the final word, dismissing Southee by inducing a catch to Brydon Carse.
With these performances, Atkinson reached a remarkable milestone, chalking up 51 Test wickets in 2024, his debut year in international cricket. This places him second on the all-time list for wickets in a debut calendar year, behind Terry Alderman of Australia, who took 54 wickets in 1981. Atkinson surpassed cricketing legends like Curtly Ambrose (49 wickets in 1988) and Jasprit Bumrah (48 wickets in 2018), solidifying his place in history. The last English bowler to achieve 50 Test wickets in a calendar year was the legendary James Anderson, who took 55 wickets in 2017.
Despite England initially being on the backfoot after a strong opening partnership between Tom Latham (63) and Will Young (42), Atkinson’s efforts helped England apply pressure. After New Zealand had moved to a comfortable 142/2, Atkinson’s spell, combined with disciplined bowling from the rest of the England attack, saw the Kiwis lose five wickets for just 89 runs, slipping to 231/7 by the end of the day. Mitchell Santner stood firm with an invaluable 50*, while William O’Rourke was unbeaten at the other end.
Atkinson’s sensational rise in 2024 is a testament to his skill, maturity, and consistency, and his contribution in Hamilton ensures he will be remembered as one of the most exciting young fast bowlers to emerge on the international scene in recent years.
