NEW DELHI: Joe Root's remarkable feat of scoring a century in both innings of a Test was overshadowed as
Gus Atkinson
clinched the player-of-the-match award in England's commanding victory over Sri Lanka.
On Sunday, England secured a 190-run win at Lord's, taking a 2-0 lead in the three-Test series, with Atkinson's all-round performance playing a pivotal role.
Atkinson achieved the rare double of taking five wickets in an innings and scoring a century in the same Lord's Test.
The feat has only been accomplished twice before, by India's Vinoo Mankad in 1952 and England's Ian Botham in 1978 against Pakistan.
"I couldn't have asked for much more, to get on both honours boards is incredible and it'll take a bit of time to sink in," Atkinson said after helping England to a 190-run win that gave his side a 2-0 lead in the three test series.
"It’s great to be able to attack and not worry about runs. Physically it can be demanding, being aggressive every over, but I’m enjoying it very much," Atkinson said.
England captain Ollie Pope praised Atkinson's bowling prowess, highlighting his ability to bowl near the 90 miles-per-hour mark with swing and seam, making him a formidable opponent for any batsman.
Atkinson's remarkable performance continued his successful run from the previous series against the West Indies, where he took a 12-wicket haul on his debut, also at Lord's.
"He is quick, and seaming the ball both ways, so it's a pretty good headache for the batsman," Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya Da Silva told reporters about facing Atkinson.
Atkinson's rise has come at a crucial moment for England, following the successive retirements of their all-time greatest wicket taker Jimmy Anderson and his chief strike partner over the years, Stuart Broad.
English (US) ·