Michael Parkinson: Atherton is quite simply a remarkable Englishman (28 June 1997)

Saturday 28 June 1997

Atherton is quite simply a remarkable Englishman

By Michael Parkinson

WHEN Michael Atherton was asked what he thought about his newly-published authorised biography he said he hadn`t read it.

The first Jon Holmes, his manager and friend, knew about Atherton`s OBE was when he read about it in the newspaper.

Holmes rang to ask why Atherton hadn`t told him about the honour. "I forgot," his client said. Holmes says both incidents reveal how much Atherton is consumed by the business of being a cricketer. "He isn`t being smart or nonchalant. When he plays cricket, particularly when he is captaining England, he is totally absorbed to the exclusion of all else," he said.

It was revealing to hear him at his benefit dinner in London talking about the need for `passion` in a successful team. It is not a word you associate with Michael Atherton. When you think of him, less romantic words come to mind, like cool, withdrawn, remote. We are as likely to see Atherton smoulder with passion as we are to encounter an iceberg with a smoking chimney. On the other hand, any man who can survive the ordeals he has been through with his enthusiasm as strong as ever must be either barmy or in love.

When he walks out at Old Trafford next week he is de- serving of a special ovation, not just because he is the local lad made good, or it is his benefit year, nor that he has cap- tained England more than any other player and his team are one up against the Aussies, but because he has proved himself a very remarkable Englishman with a special place in the hearts of anyone who likes to watch a battler in action.

There were early indications of his single, not to say bloody, mindedness. His mother remembers the solemn child who rarely laughed, happy in his own company, independent at a young age. At Manchester Grammar School his reliability as a cricketer was underlined by a report which noted in 1982: "An ex- traordinary event took place this season; Michael Atherton played and missed". When he was 16 and being coached by Peter Lever he impressed the Lancashire and England player by wanting to discuss the mental aspects of playing professional cricket.

Mark Nicholas, who captained Atherton on an A team tour in 1990, recalls a team meeting where it was suggested the best catcher in the squad should field at backward point. Atherton said: "I`d better go there. I don`t drop anything." Nicholas recalls: "Of course, he took a brilliant one-handed catch and gave me that `I told you so` look. He has an incredible confidence in his own ability and capabilities."

It is true to say not everyone is as complimentary about Michael Atherton. Freddie Titmus believes he is lucky to be England captain, and a man who wrote to me the other day was apoplectic about him being awarded the OBE. (To be fair I must report the letter was written in purple ink and some words were incomplete, having fallen off the page). Perhaps Ray Illingworth was nearest the mark when he said that whatever people might think about Michael Atherton, one characteristic was beyond dispute: he is stubborn.

Jon Holmes agrees. "He is the most stubborn man I have ever met. A cussed, awkward, determined character who can drive you mad in real life, and yet in the middle those characteristics make him the cricketer and leader he is. Who else but an awkward cuss, someone who refuses to bow down to conventional thinking, who loves stuffing his critics and proving them wrong, could have played that innings in South Africa? We thought the game was lost. He knew it wasn`t. That`s his quality."

Atherton`s innings of 185 to save the game in Johannesburg and his partnership with Jack Russell have been woven into the permanent tapestry of cricket. Illingworth thought it the greatest Test innings ever. Typically, Atherton`s comment in the biography is that his best time as captain came after that innings because he was on a high and all the decisions came easily. The relationship with Illingworth was uneasy but with hindsight can probably be seen as a defining moment in Atherton`s career.

THERE were many people - and I was one - who imagined a combination of Illingworth and Atherton to be an ideal solution to England`s problems. We reasoned they shared a common philosophy and personality. Peas from the same pod. We were right about that, but the similarities made the relationship impossible.

The immovable object and the irresistible force. There were differences too, and these didn`t help. The generation gap between the two men was too wide to bridge. What we hadn`t realised was just how big the difference was between the cricketers of Illingworth`s generation and today`s. Jeans, mobile phones, sunglasses, unshaven faces are the common currency of modern youth, yet certain indications to the bus pass generation that we have gone to the dogs.

Moreover, Atherton objected to the way Illingworth con- ducted the business of being England boss through the media. In the biography he says: "I don`t care what`s said within four walls of the dressing room or selection meeting but that`s where it must begin and end. It should not finish up on the back pages of the tabloids. I always felt that Illy was too available to the idea . . . it seemed to me he got led up the garden path on occasion."

Atherton`s own relationship with the media is interesting. He is getting better at television interviews although he can still be perverse. After defeating the Australians 3-0 in the one-day series he appeared on television looking glum. Quite rightly he was admonished by Jon Holmes, who asked him why. "I didn`t want to appear to be gloating," he said. His relationship with the print media is on the defensive side of wary. He has many friends in the press box with whom he enjoys convivial and trusting relationships.

However, he appears not to enjoy press conferences. He feels he has been misquoted in the past so he takes a minimalist approach to answering questions, working on the principle if he doesn`t say much he has a better chance of not being misquoted. This is wishful thinking given the imagination of some members of the fourth estate.

A group of people were discussing Atherton`s attitude towards the media and wondering how they might characterise it. David Gower said: "It`s partly due to being born in Lan- cashire, partly due to being brought up in Manchester, partly due to being a stubborn devil but mostly it`s due to being a professional cricketer confronted by pillocks with a pen." Given the way he refuses to suffer fools at all, never mind gladly, it is remarkable Atherton has lasted as long as he has at his chosen profession. Having done so, it is possible he sees calmer waters ahead.

He is now surrounded by people he both likes and admires. Having selectors who still play the game is a huge com- fort, David Graveney is a friend, David Lloyd a trusted confidant. Lord MacLaurin seems to have got a grip. The team is confident and well-managed. Atherton himself is showing more confidence and flexibility as a captain.

PROBLEMS remain. His back still gives him gyp. He doesn`t let on and it`s not his nature to whinge, but he says in the biography: "The period after my back operation in 1991 was pretty desperate. Lying there on my back one endless day after another the thought did cross my mind it was all slipping away. Since then I`ve always known my days were numbered, so to speak. Ultimately the state of my back might have the final say in how long I play for England. I might just make the Millennium. I`ve prepared myself for not going any further than that."

He will always be haunted by the incident in which he was accused of tampering with the ball during a Test match. The book offers no revelations on the subject. It remains a mystery. His friends might dismiss it as a storm in a teacup, but critics will always believe he should have been sacked from the captaincy and froth at the mouth when they see OBE after his name.

His own views on this and other matters, like what he really thought of Raymond Illingworth and one or two others he worked and played with, will obviously be more closely examined in his autobiography. David Norrie, the author of this authorised biography, has written a detailed and perceptive account of Atherton`s life. But I can`t help feeling that we haven`t yet seen what is inside the oyster.

Athers: The Authorised Biography of Michael Atherton, by David Norrie, is published by Headline at -L17.99.

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