3 wickets in 4 balls — debutant Gus Atkinson steals limelight in James Anderson's farewell match. Watch

NEW DELHI: In his debut Test match at Lord's on Wednesday, England's Gus Atkinson stole the limelight as he showcased his bowling acumen with a remarkable seven-wicket haul, including three wickets in four balls against West Indies.

Batting first after losing the toss in James Anderson's farewell match, West Indies, starting at 88-3 in the 35th over, faced a daunting challenge as Atkinson unleashed his devastating spell.

Atkinson's second delivery of the over dismissed Alick Athanaze, caught in the slips by Joe Root after a well-played 23. In quick succession, Jason Holder, returning to Test cricket after nearly a year, edged the next ball to slip, where Harry Brook made no mistake.

Joshua Da Silva survived the hat-trick ball but couldn't withstand Atkinson's relentless attack. On the following delivery, Da Silva inside-edged to wicketkeeper Jamie Smith, who completed the catch. Smith, also making his Test debut for Surrey, contributed to Atkinson's incredible feat.

Atkinson's spell of three wickets for no runs in four deliveries left the West Indies reeling. His final figures of 7-45 in 12 overs were a testament to his skill and composure under pressure on the grand stage of Lord's.

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The debutant's performance not only impressed the crowd but also earned accolades from teammates and cricket pundits alike, marking a memorable start to his Test career.

England's selectors and team management were delighted with Atkinson's breakthrough performance, highlighting his potential as a future bowling star. His ability to swing the ball and exploit the Lord's conditions effectively bodes well for England's bowling attack in upcoming matches.

As Atkinson celebrated his debut Test with a match-winning performance, the cricketing world took note of a new talent, who could well emerge as the long-term replacement for Anderson.