ATHERTON_SOME_FACTS_28JUL94

Further information gleaned from various newspapers.

* Atherton used to bowl quite a bit for his county side, Lancashire, before his back injury; when he bowled, he had the (perfectly legal) habit of wiping his hands on the ground then rubbing one side of the ball to dry it.

* After his back injury, he started to put some earth in his pocket to save him bending down. This procedure was learned from another Lancashire bowler who did this.

* He continued to keep earth in his pocket and dry the ball for some time quite openly during various first class matches until last Saturday's incident.