Full name Michael Andrew Atherton
Born March 23, 1968, Failsworth, Manchester, Lancashire
Current age 52 years 346 days
Major teams England, Cambridge University, Lancashire
Nickname Cockroach, FEC, Athers, Dread
Playing role Opening batsman
Batting style Right-hand bat
Bowling style Legbreak
Other Commentator, Journalist, Author
Height 6 ft 0 in
Education Manchester Grammar School; Downing College, Cambridge
Mat | Inns | NO | Runs | HS | Ave | BF | SR | 100 | 50 | 4s | 6s | Ct | St | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tests | 115 | 212 | 7 | 7728 | 185* | 37.69 | 20609 | 37.49 | 16 | 46 | 904 | 4 | 83 | 0 |
ODIs | 54 | 54 | 3 | 1791 | 127 | 35.11 | 3054 | 58.64 | 2 | 12 | 155 | 1 | 15 | 0 |
First-class | 336 | 584 | 47 | 21929 | 268* | 40.83 | 54 | 107 | 268 | 0 | ||||
List A | 287 | 279 | 23 | 9343 | 127 | 36.49 | 14 | 59 | 111 | 0 |
Mat | Inns | Balls | Runs | Wkts | BBI | BBM | Ave | Econ | SR | 4w | 5w | 10 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tests | 115 | 14 | 408 | 302 | 2 | 1/20 | 1/20 | 151.00 | 4.44 | 204.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
ODIs | 54 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
First-class | 336 | 8981 | 4733 | 108 | 6/78 | 43.82 | 3.16 | 83.1 | 3 | 0 | |||
List A | 287 | 812 | 711 | 24 | 4/42 | 4/42 | 29.62 | 5.25 | 33.8 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Test debut | England v Australia at Nottingham, Aug 10-14, 1989 scorecard |
Last Test | England v Australia at The Oval, Aug 23-27, 2001 scorecard |
Test statistics | |
ODI debut | England v India at Leeds, Jul 18, 1990 scorecard |
Last ODI | England v Sri Lanka at Lord's, Aug 20, 1998 scorecard |
ODI statistics | |
First-class span | 1987 - 2001 |
List A span | 1987 - 2001 |
Gutsy and stubborn, single-minded and sledger-proof, Mike Atherton was an opener in the classic English tradition, making batting look like trench warfare. Defence was his forte, but when his bad back wasn't playing up, he hooked freely and timed the ball sweetly through point. In opponents' eyes, he was England's most wanted man for the seven years until his retirement at the end of the 2001 Ashes. Thrust into the captaincy at the age of 25, he proved more durable than successful, but after finally resigning in 1998, he slipped comfortably into the role of elder statesman. Australia seldom saw the best of him, but his relish for a personal duel did much to bring about series victories over both South Africa (1998) and West Indies (2000). He retired in 2001 and slipped easily into the media, establishing a reputation as one of the better player-broadcasters as well as a no-nonsense journalist. Lawrence Booth
Wisden Cricketer of the Year 1991
Awarded the OBE in June 1997