Atherton back in charge (19 December 1998)
MIKE ATHERTON returned to his old job of captaining England in the four-day match against a strong Australian XI which started in Hobart early this morning, after the selectors decided to rest Alec Stewart and Nasser Hussain, the next in command
19-Dec-1998
19 December 1998
Atherton back in charge
By Nelson Clare
MIKE ATHERTON returned to his old job of captaining England in
the four-day match against a strong Australian XI which started
in Hobart early this morning, after the selectors decided to rest
Alec Stewart and Nasser Hussain, the next in command.
The latter pair have played in virtually all the matches on tour,
and Stewart has begun to show the strain. The captain,
wicketkeeper and front-line batsman has reached double figures
only twice in six Test innings.
The decision to rest Stewart and Hussain gives Atherton, who
ended a record spell as England captain last winter after losing
the Test series in West Indies, a chance to lead the tourists
back to better form after their 205-run defeat in the third Test
in Adelaide.
Graham Gooch, the tour manager, insisted that there was nothing
sinister in Stewart's absence against an Australian XI who
include nine Test players, but it is sure to increase speculation
that he is finding the workload difficult on his first tour as
captain.
Alan Mullally, Dean Headley and Darren Gough are also rested
after their exertions in Adelaide, leaving the seam bowling
responsibilities with Ben Hollioake, Angus Fraser, Dominic Cork
and Alex Tudor, while Peter Such retains the spin-bowling place
ahead of Robert Croft.
Graham Thorpe, the Surrey batsman whose back problems forced him
to leave the tour, has been told that he must play in the Sharjah
Trophy in early April if he is to be considered a serious
candidate for the World Cup finals next summer.
Source :: Electronic Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk)