Michael Atherton Factfile (31 March 1999)

31 March 1999

Michael Atherton Factfile

The Electronic Telegraph

1968: Born March 23 at Failsworth, Manchester.

1987: Made debuts for Cambridge University and Lancashire. Topped 1,000 runs in first season. Captained Young England in Sri Lanka. 1988: Appointed captain of Cambridge. Captained Young England in Australia.

1989: Awarded county cap and made England debut against Australia at Trent Bridge.

1990: Young Cricketer of the Year. Vice-captain of England A in Zimbabwe 1990. First Test century (151) against NZ at Nottingham.

1990-91: Toured Australia.

1992-93: Toured India and Sri Lanka. 1993: Appointed England captain for 5th Test against Australia. Secured first Test win as captain in 6th Test at the Oval.

1994: Captained England in West Indies, losing series 3-1. Won home Test series 1-0 against NZ and drew 1-1 with S Africa. Accused of ball tampering on third day of 1st Test at Lord's against S Africa. Denied allegations but was fined £1,000 by England management.

1994-95: Led England in Australia, losing series 3-1. 1995: Drew home series against W Indies 2-2. Led England in S Africa. Made his highest Test score of 185 not out, passing 4,000 runs for England (1,000 in 1995) while helping save 2nd Test in Johannesburg.

1996: Led England to 1-0 home series win over India - including 160 at Trent Bridge - but lost series against Pakistan 2-0. Came under pressure over captaincy style after drawn series in Zimbabwe.

1997: Scored 94 not out and 118 at Christchurch to secure 2-0 series win over NZ but lost form for Ashes series, which England lost 3-2. Chose to continue as captain despite calls for him to resign.

1998: Struggled throughout Test series in W Indies, which England lost 3-1, but appointed captain for five-match one-day series. Resigned, however, after final Test.

1998/9: Shrugged off back injury to take part in Ashes series but was rested for one-day series.

March 30: Pulls out of World Cup squad with recurrence of back injury.

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