Daijiworld Media Network – London

London, Aug 2: England pacer Gus Atkinson made a sensational return to Test cricket on Day 2 of the fifth and final Test against India at The Oval, picking up five wickets and rewriting a 129-year-old record.

After missing the first four Tests due to injury, Atkinson roared back with a devastating spell of 5/33, dismantling India's batting lineup and bowling them out for 224. His wickets included key dismissals of Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel, Washington Sundar, Mohammed Siraj, and Prasidh Krishna.

With this haul, Atkinson became only the second bowler in Test history to take 60 wickets at a strike rate below 35, achieving it in just 13 matches with an average of 21 and strike-rate of 34.9. England legend George Lohmann, who retired in 1896, tops the list with 60 wickets at a strike rate of 34.1. Australia's Scott Boland is third with 60 wickets at 36.

England, in reply, posted 247 runs, led by Zak Crawley’s aggressive 64 off 57 balls and a brisk 43 from Ben Duckett. However, a sharp spell by Krishna (4/62) and Siraj (4/83) triggered a collapse after the openers’ 92-run stand.

India’s resistance came from Karun Nair (57) and Washington Sundar (26), who added a vital 50-run stand for the seventh wicket. England’s Josh Tongue also impressed with 3/57.

At stumps on Day 2, India ended at 75/2 in their second innings, with Jaiswal unbeaten on 51 and night-watchman Akash Deep on 4, giving the visitors a 52-run lead going into Day 3.