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Gus Atkinson takes five as India collapse for 224

He took three of the remaining four India wickets that India had when they arrived on Friday morning on 204 for 6

Gus Atkinson finished with a five-for, England vs India, 5th Test, 2nd day, The Oval, August 1, 2025

Gus Atkinson finished with a five-for  •  PA Photos/Getty Images

Gus Atkinson's fourth five-wicket haul helped England make light work of what remained of India's first innings of the fifth Test, dismissing them for 224.
Atkinson's 5 for 33 upon his return to the XI after two months out was all the more important after news this morning that Chris Woakes would play no further part in the match after a suspected dislocated shoulder sustained in the field last evening. And the Surrey quick, on his home ground, took three of the remaining four wickets that India had up their sleeve when they arrived on Friday morning on 204 for 6.
It was Josh Tongue who made the first key incision, albeit with a choatic approach that would get any surgeon struck off. His first over, opening from the Vauxhall End, went for nine, but he was able to remove Karun Nair for 57 in his second. A sharp delivery that nipped into the stumps - Nair no doubt expected something short and wide either side of them - pinned the right-hander on the back leg. Plumb in front, Nair took one of India's three reviews with him.
Washington Sundar should have assumed the responsibility at that point as an elongated tail became exposed, but he fell five deliveries later, waltzing into a short ball trap, heaving Atkinson to deep square leg, where Jamie Overton sprinted in to take a smart catch.
Atkinson would then skittle Mohammed Siraj before Prasidh Krishna felt for a delivery outside off, completing a collapse of four for six in 18 balls. This is now the lowest first innings total of the series. The previous lowest was India's 358 at Manchester.
Atkinson now boasts an average of 21, the fourth best for an England seamer with fifty or more dismissals, and the second best strike rate, ever, at 34.9, for those who have taken 60 wickets.

Vithushan Ehantharajah is an associate editor at ESPNcricinfo