In what will be James Anderson's final Test match, debutant Gus Atkinson stole the show on day one of the Lord's Test against West Indies. The 26-year-old took an impressive seven-wicket haul, including three wickets in a single over, to limit the visitors to a mere 121 runs. With Anderson retiring and Atkinson's outstanding debut performance, England is looking to build a strong team for their upcoming Ashes series in 2025-26. With a commanding lead of 68 runs at stumps, England is in a strong position to win the series opener.
After winning the toss, England's Ben Stokes decided to bowl first, much to the delight of the home crowd. This decision would prove to be a historic one as it marks the final Test match for veteran bowler Jimmy Anderson. The overcast skies also presented an opportunity for Anderson, who made his debut at Lord's almost two decades ago, to showcase his signature swing bowling. Both teams had already finalized their squads beforehand, with England giving debuts to Jamie Smith and Gus Atkinson, while West Indies retained their tried-and-tested players.