Gus Atkinson’s remarkable first Test appearance – claiming 12-106 against West Indies at Lord’s – gave him the third-best match figures by an England debutant. Richard Spiller takes a look at some other notable entries by Surrey men’s players.
Tom Richardson – 1893, Old Trafford
Just like Gus Atkinson, Tom Richardson made his debut alongside a county colleague as Bill Brockwell joined him in the side at Old Trafford in 1893.
Richardson replaced fellow Surrey quick Bill Lockwood, who had taken eight wickets in an innings victory at The Oval which would decide the series.
He impressed immediately, claiming 5-49 as Australia were dismissed for 204. After England replied with 243, Richardson underlined his appetite for hard work in soldiering on through 44 overs to finish with 5-107 and 10-156 in the match, although a chase for 198 ended at 118-4.
It was the beginning of a golden period for Richardson, who would take 1,005 of his 2,104 first-class wickets over the next four seasons, his appetite for bowling – off a long run – a vital component in Surrey dominating the early days of the County Championship.
Alec Bedser – 1946, Lord’s
Alec Bedser was nearly 28 when he made his England debut, yet relatively inexperienced in the first-class game.
He had barely started as a professional, joining Surrey’s staff in 1938 and making his senior entrance the following season, but the Second World War halted the sport for the next six summers.
When the county game restarted, Bedser was soon making up for lost time and had collected 100 wickets by the end of June. Many of England’s faster bowlers were ageing – Essex’s Ken Farnes had been killed in action – and Bedser’s speedy rise, dependent mainly on inswing at that stage, was much welcomed by the selectors.
India were the tourists and in the first Test for seven years, Bedser’s new ball partner was Yorkshire veteran Bill Bowes, who had taken prisoner at Tobruk in 1942 and lost more than four stone while incarcerated.
Bedser had been more fortunate, being evacuated from Dunkirk alongside twin Eric.
He made an immediate impact by claiming 7-49 from 29.1 overs, India being bowled out for 200, England replying with 428 all out thanks to Joe Hardstaff’s 205no, before following it up with 4-96. That brought match figures of 11-145 as England won by 10 wickets, going on to take 11-96 in the next match at Old Trafford and carrying the attack for much of the following decade.
Peter May – 1951, Headingley
It was always a question of when, rather than if, Peter May would make his entrance to Test cricket.
Prolific as a schoolboy at Charterhouse, his advance was held up by two years of national service but his England debut, aged 21, came in his second year at Cambridge University.
England were 2-1 up after three Tests against South Africa, a series they would go on to win 3-1, May’s debut coming at Headingley.
He had to wait until the third day to bat, Eric Rowan’s 236 leading the tourists to 538 all out. Just to prove how good a pitch it was, Len Hutton (100) and new opening partner Frank Lowson (58) – his Yorkshire colleague – put on 99 before May’s arrival.
May’s 138 over 380 minutes showed “equanimity from first to last” according to Wisden, adding that “his sound technique stamped him as a player well above the ordinary”.
Trevor Bailey’s 95 ensured England reached 505 all out and South Africa were 87-0 when the final day was rained off, to the disappointment of few given the slim likelihood of a definitive result. May would later be described as England’s finest post-war bat by Australian skipper Richie Benaud, playing 66 Tests – captaining 41 times – before retiring at the early age of 31.
Ben Foakes – 2018, Galle
When Ben Foakes finally got his opportunity to play Test cricket – his glovework had long been held in the highest regard – it came in unlikely circumstances.
Foakes had just played a leading part in Surrey winning the County Championship. He was looking forward to a winter off when he was called out to Sri Lanka after an injury to Jonny Bairstow.
Having arrived on short notice, Foakes was quick off the blocks and became England’s debutant saviour, one of only five wicketkeepers in history to score a century on his maiden appearance.
Foakes was making his debut alongside county captain Rory Burns and entered at 103-5, his carefully crafted 107 leading the way to 342 all out. An unbeaten 37 in the second innings helped England to set Sri Lanka 462 and win by 211 runs, the quality of his keeping on turning pitches being no surprise.
Jamie Smith – 2024, Lord’s
It wasn’t just Gus Atkinson making a good impression at Lord’s, of course.
Jamie Smith received his cap on the opening morning, from the retiring Jimmy Anderson, and had a debut to remember as well.
Succeeding Ben Foakes behind the stumps – Smith paid tribute to the advice and support he had received from the friend and colleague he was replacing – he took four catches, kept with typically neat efficiency and cracked an accomplished 70 which extended England’s lead to a formidable 250.
Pacing his innings brilliantly whilst batting with the tail, it was a maiden appearance to cherish for the newly 24-year-old.
