Atherton calls for more tours of the subcontinent

Rawalpindi, Oct 31: Former England captain Michael Atherton made Pakistan hot favourites for the three-Test series and urged for more tours of the subcontinent. Talking to reporters at the Pindi Cricket Stadium, Atherton, who joined the team for the Tests, said England cannot make excuses if things don't go in their favour.

"The conditions here are more alien than we are used to which automatically make Pakistan favourites for the Test series. They have excellent spinners while we don't have enough practice against slow bowlers because the spinners have been redundant in the last couple of years in England," Atherton, who has scored 6,939 runs in 102 Tests, said.

He said it was a shame that England have not toured Pakistan in 13 years and India in eight years. "I think we should visit the subcontinent more often because I feel that to improve the standard of one's game, you need to play in different conditions and against different bowlers."

He said the attitude of the England touring parties down the years have been good and professional. "But if we have not done good (on tours), it is through not playing well than anything else.

Atherton, who led England in a record 50 Tests, said the England batsmen needed to do a lot of homework to be able to face Pakistan spinners.

"Basically the best way to play spinners is with a quick and precise foot work. You have to get yourself in good position early to play strokes," Atherton, the Lancashire opener, added.

Asked if he was available to bowl his gentle leg-spinners, he said with a broad smile: "Sadly my brand of leg-spinners are long gone. They are not likely to appear on this tour."

Atherton said his role in the forthcoming series would be to score as many runs as possible. He said being a fairly experienced player, he was always available for help and advice.