With the first Test at Lord’s against New Zealand scheduled to begin in early June, England have received a timely fitness boost after a serious-looking incident in county cricket. Fast bowler Gus Atkinson was struck on the head twice during a Surrey vs Nottinghamshire match, with the second blow described as especially uncomfortable, prompting immediate concussion concerns and a reshuffle in the Surrey XI.
Atkinson hit twice, and a concussion precaution taken
The incident came during Atkinson’s time at Surrey, where he faced fellow England pacer Josh Tongue. Tongue hit Atkinson on the head twice, and after the second contact, Atkinson was removed from the field. Surrey then brought in Reece Topley, who has featured for England in multiple limited-overs formats.
Despite the early alarm, Atkinson initially chose to carry on with his innings after both impacts. However, once the situation was reassessed, the decision was made for him to step off the field. At the moment he left, he was on 27.
Surrey coach Gareth Batty offers reassurance
In the aftermath, Surrey coach Gareth Batty provided an encouraging update, suggesting that Atkinson had passed the relevant checks and that the precautionary removal was driven by duty of care rather than any indication of a serious outcome.
- Batty said Atkinson “passed the tests on the field,” which is why he was able to remain part of the action for a time.
- He added that Atkinson felt fine himself, but protocols around player welfare meant he ultimately had to come off.
- Batty confirmed that Atkinson is “OK in himself,” even though the exact sequence of events was not fully clear to him.
England’s fast-bowling picture ahead of Lord’s
England will be grateful for the reassurance as they consider their bowling options for the opener against New Zealand. The broader fast-bowling landscape remains challenging, with several names carrying fitness or availability concerns.
- Captain Ben Stokes has returned to competitive cricket after playing his first match in months.
- Brydon Carse is injured.
- Jofra Archer is occupied with the IPL, which concludes on May 31, making it unlikely he will be available for the Test that starts on June 4 at Lord’s.
- Mark Wood is recovering from injury.
- Atkinson and Josh Tongue are the only two fast-bowling options without any question marks, following the county incident involving Tongue’s direct hits.
The England camp will be particularly relieved that nothing more severe resulted from those two blows, given the potential impact on a key part of their bowling unit.
Atkinson’s Ashes stint and recent injury record
Atkinson’s Test involvement earlier this year came during England’s Ashes campaign, which they lost 4-1. He appeared in three Tests, but struggled to make a significant impact with the ball.
- He bowled 73 overs across the series.
- He took six wickets.
- His bowling average was 47.33, and his strike rate was 73.
In terms of his fitness history, Atkinson picked up a hamstring problem during the fourth Ashes Test and subsequently missed the final match in Sydney. He also did not play in the third Test.
