Gus Atkinson has received a first call up to England’s white ball side for the IT20 and ODI series against New Zealand.
Gus is joined in the ODI squad by Surrey’s Jason Roy, Sam Curran and Reece Topley who are all regulars with the white ball whilst Will Jacks and Curran are both in the T20 side.
Gus Atkinson has impressed over the last 18 months with his pace and lower-order hitting in red and white-ball cricket. Atkinson took 18 wickets at an average of 31 as Surrey won the County Championship last year and has taken 16 wickets at an average of just 20 this year. He adds handy lower-order runs with powerful stroke play, scoring three half-centuries in the last two seasons. The quick bowler also took 13 wickets in this year’s Blast as Surrey fell short in the semi-final against eventual winners Somerset, to add to the 11 wickets, at an average of just 14.5, in last year’s competition.
Atkinson has been part of the Surrey Talent Pathway since U12s and plays his cricket at Spencer CC, he follows in the footsteps of new England team-mates Roy, Curran and Jacks in making their way through the Surrey age group set up.
All five players will be unavailable for Surrey’s County Championship home fixture against Warwickshire (Sunday 3-Wednesday 6 September).
England Men’s National Selector, Luke Wright, said: “We have been able to name two extremely strong squads that underline the depth of talent we enjoy in white-ball cricket.
“The return of Ben Stokes only adds to that quality with his match-winning ability and leadership. I am certain that every fan will enjoy seeing him back in an England ODI shirt again.
“We’re also excited to give first international call-ups to both Gus Atkinson and John Turner while Josh Tongue has deserved a place in the T20 squad after impressing during the Ashes.
“Any series against New Zealand is closely fought and will provide us with an ideal opportunity to test ourselves against one of the best teams in the world.”
England Men ODI squad:
Jos Buttler (Lancashire – captain)
Moeen Ali (Warwickshire)
Gus Atkinson (Surrey)
Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire)
Sam Curran (Surrey)
Liam Livingstone (Lancashire)
Dawid Malan (Yorkshire)
Adil Rashid (Yorkshire)
Joe Root (Yorkshire)
Jason Roy (Surrey)
Ben Stokes (Durham)
Reece Topley (Surrey)
David Willey (Northamptonshire)
Mark Wood (Durham)
Chris Woakes (Warwickshire)
England Men IT20 squad:
Jos Buttler (Lancashire – captain)
Rehan Ahmed (Leicestershire)
Moeen Ali (Warwickshire)
Gus Atkinson (Surrey)
Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire)
Harry Brook (Yorkshire)
Sam Curran (Surrey)
Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire)
Will Jacks (Surrey)
Liam Livingstone (Lancashire)
Dawid Malan (Yorkshire)
Adil Rashid (Yorkshire)
Josh Tongue (Worcestershire)
John Turner (Hampshire)
Luke Wood (Lancashire)
England Men v New Zealand – Vitality IT20 Series schedule
1st Vitality IT20: Seat Unique Riverside, Chester-le-Street – 30 August
2nd Vitality IT20: Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester – 1 September
3rd Vitality IT20: Edgbaston, Birmingham – 3 September
4th Vitality IT20: Trent Bridge, Nottingham – 5 September
England Men v New Zealand – Metro Bank One-Day Series schedule
1st Metro Bank ODI: Sophia Gardens, Cardiff – 8 September
2nd Metro Bank ODI: The Ageas Bowl, Southampton – 10 September
3rd Metro Bank ODI: The Kia Oval, London – 13 September
4th Metro Bank ODI: Lord’s, London – 15 September
