Atherton poised for recall (28 February 1999)

28 February 1999

Atherton poised for recall

By Scyld Berry

WHEN England's party of 15 for the World Cup and Sharjah tournament is announced tomorrow, it is expected to contain someone who has played only one one-day international in the best part of two years. But this someone will not be altogether a newcomer as it is Mike Atherton.

The main conclusion to be drawn from England's one-day series in Australia was that their team were chronically short of batsmen who could work the ball around calmly for five runs an over. Too many hotheads or poor techniques. Atherton's return will strengthen England on both counts.

Time was when he was worth a one-day place only in low-scoring matches or on slow pitches, but since then he has cast away inhibition as well as the captaincy. In the only international he has been granted since May 1997 he scored 73 against Sri Lanka at Lord's, a score beyond England's openers in the one-day series in Australia. While he remains the least spectacular of one-day players, he has become one of England's most effective.

Whether Atherton has strengthened his back since the end of the Ashes series is an issue which will be decided before England go to Pakistan in late March to warm up before Sharjah. Atherton, Graham Thorpe, also rehabilitating after back injury, and Neil Fairbrother, will all be subject to medical tests because a small squad of 15 cannot afford more than one player in each category to be unfit on World Cup days.

England's selectors have been trying to find out from the International Cricket Council the circumstances in which an injured player can be replaced - what a new and serious injury means - but the answer is elusive, as it has been in previous World Cups. They do know that the World Cup regulations insist on the home side using the same mode of transport as the teams of other countries. Shame, because stretch limousines rather than coaches would have eased the strain on those dodgy backs.

England's first-choice bowling attack has picked itself: Darren Gough, Alan Mullally, Mark Ealham and Robert Croft, with Angus Fraser a short head in front of Peter Martin, who can wield a more serious willow but is more prone to off-days and off-balls.

The all-rounders' places, however, have been causing so much discussion that they will not be finalised until today. England are embarrassed with players who can bat and bowl medium-pace to domestic limited-overs standard, but distinctly short of all-rounders up to international standard in both departments.

Alec Stewart has therefore been arguing the merits of Chris Lewis, as one who can bat and field and bowl a heavy enough ball to force stroke-playing openers like Sanath Jayasuriya and Adam Gilchrist on to the back foot.

Other people recall the one-day series against South Africa last May when Lewis bowled normally in the nets before the Headingley international then pulled out of the game without satisfactory explanation. Consistent past performances alongside Stewart for Surrey may not be enough to convince the selectors that they should take another risk, in addition to the physical unreliability of Atherton, Thorpe and Fairbrother.

Otherwise it is four of one, a third of a dozen of the other. Ian Austin is less lissom than Lewis but a more likely starter; Vince Wells probably did just enough in Australia; Andy Flintoff is making a late run in southern Africa; Adam Hollioake has lost his brio along with the one-day captaincy. Dougie Brown should not be overlooked as a lesser but utterly committed Lewis but probably will be.

Either way, England's party will have an old-fashioned, homespun feel. They do not have anyone who could command a place in a one-day World XI, and to get near Australia and South Africa will rely greatly on home advantage, though that has not been conclusive in any World Cup so far.

Source :: Electronic Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk)