![England quick Atkinson savours dream debut against West Indies](https://www.portugalcolonial.pt/media/shared/articles/a2/45/ed/England-quick-Atkinson-savours-drea-626642.jpg)
-
England white-ball cricket coach Mott stands down
-
Musk's superhuman vision promise is dangerous: researchers
-
'Little Olympian': fencer says competed in Paris heavily pregnant
-
Spain watchdog fines Booking.com 413 mn euros
-
Two Chinese swimmers cleared after positive tests in 2022 - report
-
Turkish stray dog law sparks opposition anger
-
Druze in Golan reject Israeli threats to retaliate for rocket strike
-
UK police question teen held after deadly mass stabbings
-
Number 1: How an AFP photographer grabbed the perfect surf shot
-
Hashimoto and Zhang primed for knock-out all-around title bout
-
Oil giant BP reports tumbling profits in first half
-
Chinese leaders pledge further support for flagging economy
-
Olympic blow as triathlon postponed, Biles chases first gold of Games
-
France, Spain log solid growth in second quarter
-
Taiwan's President Lai calls for unity in face of China 'threat'
-
Newcastle's Howe not contacted 'whatsoever' about England job
-
Olympic men's triathlon postponed to Wednesday due to Seine pollution
-
India's 'visa temple' bestows tickets to the American dream
-
24 dead, hundreds feared trapped in India landslides
-
Drought in Sicily threatens grain fields, animal herds
-
Belgium flexes its new locally sourced mussels
-
Notorious UK Islamist preacher to be sentenced
-
Hong Kong young fencers draw inspiration from Olympic 'Sword Queen'
-
'Bending of reality': US liberals stoke political conspiracies
-
Asian investors trade cautiously ahead of central bank decisions
-
Blinken, Austin hold defence talks with Philippine counterparts
-
Spain PM set to testify in wife's graft probe
-
Biles chases first Paris Olympic gold, fingers crossed over Seine
-
Biden unveils long-shot plan to overhaul US Supreme Court
-
'We were robbed': Despair in Venezuela after Maduro victory
-
Sabalenka returns from shoulder injury at Washington
-
California's largest fire of year rages in state's north
-
Ethiopia gets IMF relief after easing forex curbs
-
NFL bans Houston's Autry six games for doping
-
Djokovic withdraws from ATP Montreal event
-
Venezuela protesters teargassed as opposition cries foul over Maduro reelection
-
'It's for Ukraine': Kharlan celebrates special Olympic bronze
-
Italy's Ceccon wins 'dream' Olympic backstroke gold
-
US men end Olympic medal drought with team gymnastics bronze
-
McIntosh magic at Paris Olympics after Djokovic downs Nadal
-
Musk faces criticism over deepfake Kamala Harris video
-
'They robbed us': Despair in Venezuela after Maduro victory
-
Protests erupt in Caracas against Maduro's disputed election win: AFP
-
Alcaraz shrugs off injury scare to reach Olympics last 16
-
Japan win Olympic men's gymnastics team gold
-
Venezuela opposition cries foul over Maduro re-election victory
-
McCullum says England have 'harder feel' after West Indies clean sweep
-
What we know about Hezbollah's weapons arsenal
-
Children reported wounded in UK knife attack
-
Olympics show golden age of metal music
![England quick Atkinson savours dream debut against West Indies](https://www.portugalcolonial.pt/media/shared/articles/a2/45/ed/England-quick-Atkinson-savours-drea-626642.jpg)
England quick Atkinson savours dream debut against West Indies
England fast bowler Gus Atkinson enjoyed a fairytale start to his Test career at Lord's after being told by his father to prepare for "the biggest day of your life".
The Surrey paceman returned stunning figures of 7-45 on the opening day of the first Test against the West Indies as he eclipsed England great James Anderson, who only managed a solitary wicket Wednesday in what is the 41-year-old veteran's 188th and last Test before retirement.
Atkinson's stunning return was chiefly responsible for the West Indies being dismissed for just 121, with attacking fifties from Zak Crawley (76) and Ollie Pope (57) then strengthening England's advantage as the hosts reached stumps on 189-3, a lead of 68 runs.
The 26-year-old Atkinson had a dream debut, removing West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite with just his second ball and later taking three wickets in one extraordinary over after lunch.
Among those cheering him on was his father Ed, who may have inadvertently added to the pressure his son already felt ahead of a landmark match in his cricket career.
"I was a bit nervous this morning, I woke up and all I could think about was the day ahead. I was emotional," Atkinson told reporters after stumps.
"I tried to keep as level as possible but my Dad was saying 'This is the biggest day of your life'. I just said 'Relax! I'm trying not to think like that!'."
- 'Pretty cool' -
Atkinson added: "He's a big cricket fan, so to make him proud and make my family proud is very special.
"Walking through the Long Room at the end and seeing him there was pretty cool. If you could ask me what I want in a day, that would be pretty close to the top."
Atkinson's remarkable return was just shy of being the best by an England bowler on Test debut, with Dominic Cork taking 7-43 against the West Indies, also at Lord's, in 1995.
He was also the fifth England debutant to take five wickets in a Test innings during Ben Stokes' two-year reign as captain.
"I'm very proud but I don't think it's really sunk in yet to be honest," said Atkinson. "I was just looking up at the honours board looking at my figures thinking 'wow'. It was a very special day."
Anderson came into this match having already taken the most wickets by any fast bowler in Test history, a tally that now stands at 701, with only spinners Shane Warne (708) and Muttiah Muralitharan (800) ahead of him in the all-time standings.
"All the focus was on Jimmy so it was quite nice to go under the radar a little bit and focus on performing as well as I could," said Atkinson.
"To be out there alongside Jimmy in his final Test was incredible, being there with Jimmy leading us on the pitch was a pretty surreal moment.
"Ben just said to me 'Go out and do your thing' and that was it. If you speak to someone too much, a bit of pressure can start to kick in."
E.Ramalho--PC