Gus Atkinson ICC Ranking, Stats, Bowling Speed, Wickets, And Career Info

By: Vision11 | August 7, 2025 | Leave a Comment

Gus Atkinson has quickly earned recognition as one of England’s brightest fast-bowling prospects. A towering pacer from Surrey, he burst into the Test-match spotlight in 2024 and has continued to impress selectors, fans, and pundits alike. Atkinson combines solid physical ability with consistent play, making him an important figure in England’s push to rebuild their pace bowling squad.

Early Life and Domestic Roots

Born on January 19, 1998, in Chelsea, London, Angus Alexander Patrick “Gus” Atkinson stands around 6ft 2in and bowls right-arm fast medium. He was educated at Northcote Lodge and Bradfield College before breaking into Surrey’s squad in 2020. His first-class debut came on August 8, 2020, in the Bob Wills Trophy, followed soon after by his Twenty20 and list A debuts for Surrey later that season and in 2021 of the Royal London One-day Cup.

By 2022, Atkinson had become part of Surrey’s County Championship title win and joined the Oval invincibles in The Hundred. He has since been retained by them for subsequent seasons, including the championship-winning 2023 campaign.

International Emergence: From White-Ball to Red-Ball

Atkinson’s international trajectory began in August and September 2023 with England’s tours of New Zealand. He made his T20I debut on September 1, 2023, in the ODI World Cup Squad in India, despite relatively limited experience in List A cricket.

His Test debut arrived on July 10, 2024, against the West Indies at Lord’s. It proved a spectacular first step: he claimed 12 wickets in the match in the first innings and 5 in the second, to record the best figures by an England bowler on Test debut in over 130 years. Those stats also secured him a spot on the Lord’s honors board.

Career Highlights in Test Cricket

Atkinson’s test career had been packed with standout moments. In the following match against Sri Lanka at Lord’s, he scored a century and took a five-wicket haul in the same game—the first England player to achieve that feat since Ian Botham over four decades ago. He was named player of the match and dominated the series 2-0.

As of August 4, 2025, Atkinson has played 13 test matches, scored 380 runs at an average of 22.35, and taken 63 wickets at an average of 22.01. He has recorded four five-wicket hauls and one ten-wicket match haul, with best bowling figures of 7/45.

His first-class record outside international cricket includes 34 matches, 850 runs at 21.25, 128 wickets at 25.40, with five-fors and one ten-for—strong returns for a dual-role player.

ODI and T20I Stats at a Glance

ODIs: In 11 ODI matches, he’s taken 13 wickets with an average of 40.53, and his best bowling performance is 2 wickets for 28 runs. When it comes to batting, he averages roughly 17.33, having scored a total of 104 runs.
T20I: 4 matches, 6 wickets at 20.33 average, including that 4/20 debut spell. He also scored 10 runs at 10.00 average.

ICC Test Bowling Ranking and All-Rounder Position

As of early August 2025, Atkinson occupies the 10th position in the ICC Men’s Test Bowling Rankings, having reached that milestone after taking eight wickets in the fifth Test Oval against India. That marked his entrance into the top ten for the first time and was a career-best ranking. His rating stands at 766 points, matching Mitchell Starc’s but earning the 10th spot based on recent performance. His previous career-best came on August 4, 2025, against India himself. On the ICC all-rounder table, he ranks 10th with 227 rating points, showing additional value with the bat in test cricket.

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Bowling Speed, Style, and Technique

Atkinson often bowls close to 88 mph (142 km/h) in Test matches, using both bounce and sideways seam movement to trouble batsmen. During the Test at the Oval against India, his accuracy and speed really made an impact on the lively, green pitch, reinforcing his potential to thrive in Australian conditions ahead of the Ashes. His bowling style blends consistent length with seam movement rather than sheer pace; he is described as “fast medium” rather than express.

Personal Journey and Resilience

Beyond his on-field achievements, Atkinson’s rise has been shaped by personal resilience. His mother, Caroline, died in a car accident in December 2020. While Atkinson maintained focus on cricket, he later described the sentencing of the driver as providing emotional closure during his breakout summer of 2024.

Selector and coach confidence has grown as he filled the void left by Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad. Alongside teammates such as Josh Tongue and Brydon Carse, he forms part of the new generation England is trusting to lead their pace arsenal into major series like the Ashes.

Recent Form: Ovation at The Oval

In August 2025, during the fifth Test vs India at The Oval, Atkinson delivered a vital spell of 5/33 under pressure. This effort earned him praise and confirmed his maturity as a bowler capable of handling big-match situations. His average speeds and technical poise helped solidify his spot ahead of England’s upcoming Ashes commitments. That match also helped push his ICC ranking into the top ten for the first time—a clear indicator of his growing stature.

Why Atkinson Matters: Value to England

Atkinson offers something special—a good base of pace along with both seam movement and bounce.
He can contribute useful lower-order runs, having already scored a Test century and performing with the bat more than once.
His strike rate is outstanding: roughly 34.9 deliveries per wicket early in his Test career—one of the best for an England bowler ever, behind only George Lohmann in historical terms.
Atkinson’s current shape and fitness make him well-suited to lead England’s red-ball bowling, even when facing tough tours ahead.

Conclusion

Gus Atkinson has rapidly transformed from a promising county pro into a core figure in England’s Test set-up. With 63 wickets in 13 Tests at an average in the low twenties, plus key performances including a century and multiple five-fors, his rise feels genuine and well-earned. Now ranked 10th in the ICC Test standings, he is positioned as a key asset for upcoming tours, particularly the Ashes campaign in Australia. What lies ahead for Atkinson is clear: sustained performance, expanded white-ball opportunities, and leadership among England’s new fast-bowling squad.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Gus Atkinson's current ICC Test bowling ranking?

As of early August 2025, he is ranked 10th in the ICC Men's Test Bowling Rankings with a rating of 766 points, making his career-best position to date.

How many Test wickets has Atkinson taken so far?

He has claimed 63 wickets in 13 Test matches, at an average of 22.01, including four five-wicket hauls and one ten-wicket match haul.

How fast does he bowl?

Atkinson consistently breaks about 88 mph (around 142 km/h) in Test matches, combining pace with seam movement and bounce rather than sheer velocity.

What notable records has he set?

He registered the best debut Test figures by an England bowler in over 130 years (12/106 at Lord's). He also scored a Test century and took a five-wicket haul in the same match—an England first since Ian Botham.

What is his batting capability in Tests?

Although primarily a bowler, Atkinson has scored 380 Test runs at an average of 22.35, including one century (118), and has shown competence as a lower-order contributor.