Lancashire: Rest agreed for Atherton (28 Jul 1998)

28 July 1998

Rest agreed for Atherton

The Lancashire Evening Telegraph

Lancashire today agreed to England's request that they rest Mike Atherton from this week's crucial championship game against Leicestershire.

England were concerned that Atherton should have a break after his demanding match-winning innings at Trent Bridge yesterday before the fifth and deciding Test at Headingley next week.

But Atherton was in action today in the NatWest quarter-final against Notts at Old Trafford along with Andy Flintoff.

Notts reached 130-1 after 35 overs after Wasim Akram had put them in, with Jason Gallian marking his return to Old Trafford with an unbeaten 66.

The wicket went to Glen Chapple, who bowled Usman Afzaal for 13 in the 17th over, 10 overs after he had been dropped by Flintoff in the slips.

Meanwhile, Ian Austin is one of seven Lancashire players chosen today for England's provisional one-day squad.

Mike Atherton, John Crawley, Graham Lloyd, Warren Hegg, Andy Flintoff, Ian Austin and Peter Martin are all in the 37 strong party which England will count on for their hectic World Cup build-up.

Old Trafford's magnificent seven all have England experience at Test or one-day international level, apart from Austin whose only recognition so far was to appear in last year's Hong Kong sixes.

It's a belated step-up for 'Oscar" who has long been rated as one of the country's top one-day players, but has constantly been shunned by the selectors.

And for all of them, it's a chance to establish themselves in England's World Cup plans.

Source :: Lancashire Evening Telegraph (https://www.reednews.co.uk/let/)