Gus Atkinson’s Surrey appearance at Trent Bridge ended abruptly after he suffered a concussion from two successive deliveries by teammate Josh Tongue. The 28‑year‑old managed to bat after the first blow but retired hurt on 27 following the second, more severe impact. Replacements came in the form of England pacer Reece Topley, who bowled a tight spell later in the innings.

Atkinson’s injury arrives as England prepares to name its England squad for the first Test against New Zealand at Lord’s on 4 June. With Jofra Archer’s IPL workload, Brydon Carse’s broken wrist and Mark Wood’s knee problem, the pace department looks thin. Marcus North is set to join the selection panel, adding pressure on the remaining seamers. Tom Lawes’ recent injury absence further narrows the pool.

Surrey also coped with Ollie Pope’s hand injury, which saw him bat at number ten, while teammate Matthew Fisher earned an Ashes call‑up. England’s options now include fringe bowlers such as Sam Cook, Sonny Baker and Mitchell Stanley, alongside Ben Stokes, who returned to county cricket after recovering from a quad strain and facial fracture. The final squad will reflect these availability concerns.