In a move signaling the England and Wales Cricket Board’s (ECB) cautious approach towards player fitness, the ECB has decided to pull out pacer Gus Atkinson from the final of The Hundred competition. This decision comes in the wake of concerns following the injury to England Test skipper, Ben Stokes. Atkinson’s withdrawal follows a similar move involving England all-rounder Chris Woakes, as the ECB continues its vigilant strategy ahead of the vital Test series against Sri Lanka.
The 26-year-old fast bowler, who had only appeared in one match for his franchise, the Oval Invincibles, will not feature in the tournament’s grand finale. Despite missing the services of Atkinson, the Invincibles have already secured a spot in the final after finishing at the top of the eight-team table, thus bypassing the need to compete in the Eliminator.
Oval Invincibles captain, Sam Billings, addressed the media regarding Atkinson’s withdrawal. “Gus has been withdrawn, which is quite understandable,” said Billings. “It’s disappointing for him, but Saqib Mahmood has been phenomenal for us throughout the tournament and showed his class the other night. He’ll stay in the side,” he continued.
The Invincibles are also grappling with another blow as pacer Spencer Johnson is out due to injury. Nonetheless, pacer Tom Curran is expected to make a return after being rested for the last group game against the Trent Rockets on August 14. Atkinson had featured in that game against the Rockets, achieving figures of 0/28 in his 10 deliveries. The young bowler made a significant impact during his international debut series against the West Indies, where he was named Player of the Series after picking up 22 wickets.
This cautious approach by the ECB first became apparent when Chris Woakes was pulled from The Hundred’s final week following Ben Stokes’ injury. Stokes, who captains the Northern Superchargers, sustained a hamstring tear in a match against the Manchester Originals on August 11. With Woakes and Atkinson now out, speculation arises about the availability of other key players as the Test series against Sri Lanka looms large.
Despite the tactical withdrawals, several players included in the Test squad will still partake in The Hundred’s finale.
. Birmingham Phoenix’s Jamie Smith and Ben Duckett, together with Invincibles’ Jordan Cox, remain available for the final despite their names being listed in the Test squad for the series starting on August 21, just three days after The Hundred’s final.
Billings sees this as an excellent development for Jordan Cox. “Jordan will be available and I think that’s great for him,” remarked Billings. “I’ve been in that position before where as a young player, you get withdrawn and miss out on playing time. For anyone to play in a final at Lord’s in the leading domestic competition in the country, in front of a packed house, is perfect preparation for international cricket,” he added.
As The Hundred progresses towards its climax with potential knockouts, there is an added buzz about Jofra Archer. Southern Brave skipper James Vince expressed optimism about Archer’s availability for the knockout stages. “I’ve not heard otherwise, so I’m hoping that’s the case,” said Vince. “Obviously we’ve got tomorrow to take care of first, but as I understand it, he is available for both should we make the final. I can’t give you 100% confirmation because I don’t know that myself, to be honest. But there’s not much travel involved and it’s only 20 balls [per match] so I’m sure he’ll be fine,” he concluded.
The Oval Invincibles await the winner of the Eliminator between Birmingham Phoenix and Southern Brave. This high-stakes clash is scheduled for Saturday, August 17, with the final set to follow on Sunday. As the teams gear up for these decisive matches, the ramifications of player withdrawals both echo the demands of the international calendar and spotlight the ECB’s vigilance in managing their athletes’ fitness and readiness for forthcoming challenges.
This sequence of events underscores the ECB’s broader strategy designed to safeguard its elite players, ensuring their top form and physical health ahead of crucial international fixtures. As more information unfolds, fans and analysts alike will keep an eager eye on both The Hundred’s conclusion and the subsequent Test series against Sri Lanka, anticipating top-class performances and fervent competitive spirit from England’s cricket stars.
