Stuart Broad has highlighted Gus Atkinson as a possible star of the upcoming Ashes sequence.
Quick-bowler Atkinson, 27, burst onto the scene in the summertime of 2024 and he has since performed 13 Check matches.
Throughout that point Atkinson has taken 63 wickets at a median of simply 22.01, whereas he averages 22.35 with the bat and has even scored a Check hundred – a file that may very well be essential in a sequence the place bowlers are anticipated to dominate.
Though Atkinson has solely performed twice in 2025 resulting from harm, he’s set to start out this week’s first Check at Perth.
And Broad believes that amid the noise surrounding the hotly anticipated showdown, the Surrey star goes beneath the radar.
‘He hasn’t been talked about sufficient as a result of everybody’s specializing in Jofra Archer, Mark Wooden, and Ben Stokes returning to bowling,’ the legendary bowler mentioned on the Odds Law podcast, introduced by on-line bookmaker Fitzdares.
Stuart Broad has backed Gus Atkinson to star on this winter’s Ashes sequence in Australia
Broad hailed the 27-year-old, who has a formidable file over his first 13 Check matches
‘However I believe Gus may very well be the one who turns into a mainstay of the assault.’
Atkinson is certainly one of six seamers in England’s squad alongside all-rounder Ben Stokes, all of that are prone to be wanted given the 5 Check matches can be performed over a seven-week interval.
The 27-year-old has beforehand impressed abroad in each Pakistan and New Zealand, and bowler-turned-pundit Broad believes he has the abilities to be a massively dependable possibility for Stokes.
‘He is tall, has good tempo, strikes the ball each methods, and might swing it away from the right-hander,’ he added. ‘He may also bowl to left-handers from over and across the wicket.
‘He might do actually properly in Australia and be that constant bowler that Ben Stokes can lean on to bowl a whole lot of overs.
‘He is obtained a pleasant, brief stride sample, can undergo the gears, and might play an amazing supporting function to the faster bowlers who would possibly rotate via the sequence.’
Broad additionally believes England are in an excellent place forward of the sequence regardless of not successful a Check Down Beneath since 2011.
Their hopes at Perth can be boosted by Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood being unavailable for Australia resulting from harm, and the situation might additionally show to be an element, based on the 39-year-old.
Broad believes Atkinson has gone beneath the radar given the give attention to Jofra Archer, Ben Stokes (each pictured above throughout final week’s warm-up match) and Mark Wooden after harm troubles
Normally the Ashes begins in Brisbane, however this 12 months the Gabba will as a substitute host the second Check, which is a day-nighter, and Perth kicks off the showpiece occasion.
‘England must win the primary Check to face an opportunity of successful the Ashes,’ defined Broad, who has additionally labelled England’s opponents because the ‘worst Australia workforce’ in 14 years. ‘Our file’s stunning on the Gabba.
‘That is why it is a small benefit that the primary Check is not there this time.
‘I believe it’ll all be on the primary two Check matches, if I am sincere. If England do not get something out of the primary two, then that is a significant drawback as a result of in Australia, the vitality, the circulate of the entire nation will construct up and you then’re combating a little bit of a dropping battle.’
