Gus Atkinson is eager to play as much as possible for England in 2025 but knows being fresh for two big Test series will be key.
Surrey fast bowler Atkinson only made his Test debut last July, but has already claimed 52 wickets at an average of 22.15 across 11 red ball matches and also scored 118 against Sri Lanka.
After a hat-trick in New Zealand during the winter, Atkinson’s most recent international assignment was Brendon McCullum’s debut series as white ball head coach in India.
From playing together as kids, to representing your country together ????
A special moment as Gus Atkinson presents Jamie Smith with his T20I cap ❤️???? pic.twitter.com/yf0Z6uvw78
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) January 27, 2025
Three white ball appearances underlined Atkinson’s status as an all-format player and while England’s previously jam-packed schedule may be set to ease the 27-year-old is under no illusions this summer’s five-Test series with India and the Ashes at the end of the year are the main goals.
Atkinson said: “I’ve always been trying to chase playing back-to-back games and multiple games in a row for Surrey, so to be able to do it for England is nice and a positive.
“It has been a tiring eight to nine months, (I’ve) bowled a lot more than I usually have but I’m happy with how I’ve dealt with it all.
“I’ve had a few conversations, I’ll play a small amount of games for Surrey and then obviously there is a lot of cricket this summer for England.
“I think it is about using this period as well as I can. When I can take a step back from actual games, use it to be in the gym and training to prepare for the year ahead.
“You look at it and can’t pre-empt what you’re going to play and not going to play.
“I think there might be a bit of rotation with the bowlers but that’s not to say we won’t be involved in all the squads.
“You look at it and say, ‘right, I want to be involved in everything,’ but obviously the two main ones being the India series and the Ashes, I think those are the two things they’ll be wanting people to be fresh and ready for.
“It is a good thing having Baz in all formats. Not having to chop and change between different coaches and different styles, I think having the same environment will be a good thing.”
London-born Atkinson acknowledged the step up to England was physically demanding but loved his first full year as an international cricketer.
It does not mean anything will change at Surrey ahead of this latest season Rothesay County Championship where the title holders begin their defence at Essex on April 4.
“It is obviously a lot more physically demanding. There are stages in county cricket where you can drift a tiny bit but with all the cameras on and the crowd, there is no drifting (for England) and you always have to be on the ball. It is a lot of fun and a good group. I really enjoyed it,” Atkinson reflected.
“I don’t know what my role will be personally at Surrey and whether I’ll take the new ball or not. Whatever happens, I’ll just try to win games.”
