England fast bowler Gus Atkinson suffered a concussion whilst representing Surrey against defending champions Nottinghamshire in the Rothesay County Championship game at Trent Bridge on Sunday, May 10.
Atkinson, who has a Test hundred to his name, was struck twice on the head by compatriot Josh Tongue. The right-handed batter was cleared after both concussion checks by the team physio. However, he later called for some more treatment and eventually retired hurt on 27, with Reece Topley being called in as a concussion substitute.
"Gus passed the tests on the field, otherwise he would not have been able to stay out there. He felt like he was OK, but duty of care comes into it. I don't know the ins and outs of what exactly happened but it clearly came to a point where he had to come off. He's OK in himself," Surrey head coach Gareth Batty was quoted as saying via BBC Sport.
Atkinson’s injury scare piles more concerns for England selectors ahead of their three-match Test series against New Zealand, commencing in early June. A host of pace bowlers are recovering from injuries, including Brydon Carse and Mark Wood, with Aktinson and Tongue being touted as the Three Lions’ leading seamers for the first Test match.
England, however, do have other options to choose from even if Atkinson’s concussion is serious. The bowler’s Surrey teammate, Matt Fisher, was called in as Wood’s replacement during the Ashes, while Sussex captain Ollie Robinson could earn a call back to the international setup following a good start to the new County Championship season. The right-armer has taken 11 wickets before their game against Leicestershire.
On a brighter note, England captain Ben Stokes returned to full fitness and represented Durham against Worcestershire in Division Two. The right-arm seamer took the new ball for his side alongside Ben Raine and took a total of four wickets in the game, two in each innings, to help his side secure an emphatic nine-wicket victory in just three days at the New Road Ground in Worcester.
