GUS SPARKS GREAT EXPECTATIONS

INTERNATIONAL T20: England v New Zealand, Today, 2.30pm | Atkinson’s echoes of Archer

- Dean WILSON

THE sensational transition into international cricket by Gus Atkinson has been as quick as one of his thunderbolt deliveries – just as it was for Jofra Archer. 

And even though the 25-year-old Surrey pace ace isn’t a huge fan of the comparisons, the way he took New Zealand down with four wickets on his debut will only serve to get people as excited as they were about Archer four years ago.

Back in 2019, the Barbados-born Archer slipped into the England squad as soon as he had qualified for national duty – which happened to be on the eve of the World Cup.

And with just three games under his belt, he led England’s attack in that tournament and the rest is super-over history.