England debutant Gus Atkinson overshadowed James Anderson on his farewell appearance as he claimed seven wickets as West Indies were skittled on day one of the first Test.
The Surrey paceman took advantage of some helpful bowling conditions at Lord’s to pick up the scalps of Alick Athanaze, Jason Holder and Joshua Da Silva in the space of four balls after lunch on his way to figures of 7-45 from 12 overs.
West Indies eventually folded to 121 all-out, losing their final seven wickets for the addition of just 33 runs, with Atkinson finishing with the third best figures on debut for England, although the best in his first innings.
It took the 26-year-old just two balls of his first over to get skipper Kraigg Brathwaite to drag onto his own stumps for six, and he never looked back.
The right-armer was eventually denied the chance of an historic eight-wicket haul by Anderson, who claimed his 701st Test wicket when he pinned Jaden Seales LBW for two to end the innings.
Atkinson’s previous best figures in an innings in First Class cricket were 6-68.
Australian-born John Ferris played one Test for England, against South Africa in Cape Town in 1892, and recorded figures of 7-37, though they were in the second innings.
Dominic Cork also produced a spell of 7-43, also at Lord’s, also against the West Indies, although his figures were posted in the fourth innings of his debut Test in 1995.
