Gus Atkinson may be a man of few words, but in his debut year as a Test cricketer, his actions have spoken volumes. His impressive 2024 season culminated in a Test hat-trick, which he met with a calm demeanor, though there was a clear indication of the ambition that drives his game. Atkinson expressed a desire for more, labeling himself as “greedy” for additional achievements.

At the conclusion of day two at Basin Reserve, with England holding a commanding lead of 533 runs and a series victory over New Zealand within reach, Atkinson shared his confidence in securing early wickets. He was particularly assured that the dismissals of Nathan Smith and Matt Henry would be followed by a third consecutive wicket. The strategy, involving a spread field for a bouncer, was to deliver a yorker. Despite a slight miscalculation in length, Tim Southee’s front pad was squarely in the line of fire.

This hat-trick, the 15th by an Englishman in Test cricket and the first since Moeen Ali’s feat at the Oval seven years prior, added to a remarkable series of milestones for Atkinson within his first ten Test matches. At just 26 years old, he already boasts three five-wicket hauls, a 10-wicket debut against the West Indies at Lord’s, and a century against Sri Lanka at the same venue. While the century remains his most cherished achievement, the hat-trick comes a close second.

“As a bowler, you dream of five-wicket hauls and 10-wicket matches, but opportunities for hat-tricks are rare,” Atkinson reflected. “On my Test debut, I took two wickets in two balls and felt confident then. I can’t recall the exact words this time, but it was likely something like: ‘Yorker, aim for the stumps, go all out.’ I thought I had a good chance of achieving it. I fully committed to the bluff, and Southee, even on a hat-trick, might have gone for it. You always want to be greedy and seize as many milestones as possible. It’s been a fantastic year for me personally, and I hope to achieve more milestones and contribute to the team’s success.”

Matt Henry, who was the second wicket in the morning’s cascade that left New Zealand trailing by 155 runs in their first innings, commented: “What more can be said? He’s had an incredible year. His early success has been remarkable. Test hat-tricks are rare, and I’m sure he’s thrilled with his achievement.”

This marks Atkinson’s second hat-trick, the first occurring during his school days in 2015 for Bradfield College against Radley College. “The school hat-trick was enjoyable, but this one was probably better,” Atkinson noted, modestly downplaying the significance.

Despite a modest record with Surrey in the County Championship, Atkinson has seamlessly transitioned to Test cricket. His record of 52 wickets at 27 from 16 appearances was respectable, but his 47 wickets at 21 for England highlight his potential. When asked how the team environment has enabled players to exceed their domestic performances, Atkinson attributed it to a “no pressure, play your own game” mentality.

“I didn’t have the stats for Test cricket before I played, and I know Beth hasn’t scored a first-class century. But his batting style, his performance in ODI and T20 teams, shows his quality. He’s a top-class batter all-round,” Atkinson concluded.

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