Follow UsAfter England ignored Gus Atkinson for Lord’s Test, his county side Surrey, too have kept him away from their next fixture against Yorkshire, on July 22 (Tuesday). The pacer wasn’t even included in England’s playing XI for the fourth Test in Manchester, as the 27-year-old is still not fully fit to take the field.
Atkinson proved his fitness featuring for his club side Spencer CC during the Lord’s Test, but according to ESPNCricinfo, both physical preparation coach Peter Sim and bowling consultant Tim Southee did not deem the pacer fit enough for a Test workload.
Surrey’s reason behind his exclusion is on the same lines, as the county side needs a pacer who can handle the workload, given that the ball has changed from Dukes to Kookaburra in county cricket. Not just that, Surrey, who are leading the Championship by one point, can’t afford to make a mistake against Yorkshire.
At his expense, England all-rounder Jamie Overton will make his first red-ball appearance since May, lining up alongside Matthew Fisher, Jordan Clark and veteran Dan Worall. Atkinson, though, will feature for Surrey’s second XI against Somerset in a four-day clash, as he tries to prove fitness ahead of his England return.
Josh Tongue, who was left out of the Lord’s Test, will also feature for Nottinghamshire in their clash against Hampshire, but only on days three and four.