Atherton: Why I'm not yet ready to retire (3 January 1999)

3 January 1999

Atherton: Why I'm not yet ready to retire

Michael Atherton

THERE were so many reasons to look forward to this final Test of another absorbing Ashes series: a chance to level the series 2-2 and to play another Test at Australia's premier cricket ground; the New Year Test is always a fabulous cricket occasion.

I have a reasonable record at Sydney and would have enjoyed the rare challenge of a three-pronged spin attack; moreover the 'hacks' are hovering and seem eager to impose a premature retirement on me.

So it was especially frustrating to miss the match. I woke up with a simple back spasm which would not have unduly affected my batting but anything low to first slip may have been a struggle. After going 60 games without missing and then missing two Tests in six, people may say I'm injury prone.

At the start of the tour I was worried as my injury was a continuation of the problems from the end of our season. This, however, is not and is merely the type of thing every cricketer gets once in a while. Of course I could have gambled on the captain winning the toss and batting, but his current form in that department did not inspire much confidence.

To put the record straight, I do not intend to retire from international cricket at the end of this tour. I'm still only 30, the same age as Mark Ramprakash and Nasser Hussain. Admittedly, I have played more international cricket than them but that ought to be to my advantage, provided my desire and enjoyment of the game stay strong.

Goal-setting is also important and I would like to think that I could play for another two to three years and add some milestones to my career record.

Form and fitness are the key. With over two months before the start of our domestic season there's no reason why I shouldn't start the campaign fit and refreshed from a heavy schedule in 1998 which has seen us play 17 Tests in a calendar year.

Form, too, is quickly reversed. I realise that this tour has not been one of my best but I remember Alec Stewart having a similar struggle a couple of years ago, only to bounce back strongly. After a tour such as mine you can't expect automatic selectorial favours, so you need to start the season with a bang.

After all, I wouldn't want to finish my Test career with the pair I collected in Melbourne. In fact, I can't recall contributing less to an England match, let alone a victory. No doubt my old Cambridge mates would chuckle and fine me heavily for a non-contribution: it was the biggest 'noncon' of all time. The only time I can remember touching the ball was when I nicked a close lbw shout from Damien Fleming.

As for this match, what a day of Ashes cricket it was! It had everything: early wickets, a wonderful Waugh partnership, a Gough hat-trick and a stirring English fightback.

Australia have 300 on the board, three spinners and a turning wicket, but after Melborne our confidence is high and a contest is on.

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