Sem exames, sem campeonato do condado: Gus Atkinson pego em aviso de inglês-surrey

Despite being healthy and available, England fast bowler Gus Atkinson is participating in second XI cricket this week, unexpectedly leading to a selection standoff. Atkinson, who hasn’t played a competitive red-ball match since May due to a hamstring injury, was named in England’s squad for the third and fourth Tests against India.

He even bowled during England’s training at Old Trafford under the watch of Peter Sim and Tim Southee. Yet, with England 2-1 up in the series and unwilling to gamble on an unproven bowler (in terms of injury), that too, in a damp and muddily outfield, he was left out of the XI for the Manchester Test.

Under normal circumstances, a first-class outing for Surrey in their County Championship clash against Yorkshire would have been the logical next step. But the county has made a similar call: no red-ball cricket for Atkinson just yet. Instead, he will return to play for Surrey’s second XI in a four-day fixture at New Malden.