Gus Atkinson admitted his Test debut heroics were yet to sink in, after the fast bowler took seven wickets on day one of England’s Test against West Indies.
Atkinson – who is also in the squad for next week’s Trent Bridge Test – recorded the best figures by a Three Lions debutant in 29 years, and he admitted the day had been an emotional rollercoaster.
“I was looking up at the board seeing my figures and just thinking, ‘Wow,’” he said.
“I was a bit nervous this morning. I woke up and all I could think about was the day ahead.
“I was a bit emotional this morning and then having my family there for my cap presentation – if you could have asked me what I wanted from my day that was pretty close to the top.
“It was pretty cool. Just to take a five-for is amazing, more than I could have dreamed of.”
Atkinson’s devastating triple-wicket maiden in the afternoon session decisively turned the contest in the hosts’ favour.
The 26-year-old saw off Alick Athanaze and Jason Holder from successive deliveries, before Joshua da Silva survived the hat-trick delivery only to fall from the next ball.
“We struggled a bit after lunch, we went for a few runs, but we overturned it,” Atkinson recalled.
“I felt pretty good, it came out well, and got a few wickets quickly.
“I was just going with the flow and doing what I thought was best, and thankfully it came off.”
Atkinson’s first Test coincides with James Anderson’s last, with the England icon leading his team onto the field before the start of his 188th match in England whites.
“I said to Brooky [Harry Brook] before play, it was nice to go out there for your debut with a bit less pressure, with all the focus being on Jimmy,” he said.
“Jimmy’s just told me to go out there and do my thing, but just being with him in general and watching what he does in training and off the pitch has been pretty special this week.”
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