Peter Deeley: Captain`s thoughts turn to winter (25 August 1997)
ALTHOUGH Michael Atherton would only say at the end of the Ashes series that he is spending the next few days away from cricket - even to the extent of missing this week`s Roses game - thinking about his future, he was still keen to cast his
25-Aug-1997
Monday 25 August 1997
Captain`s thoughts turn to winter
By Peter Deeley
ALTHOUGH Michael Atherton would only say at the end of the Ashes
series that he is spending the next few days away from cricket -
even to the extent of missing this week`s Roses game - thinking
about his future, he was still keen to cast his thoughts ahead
to the winter Caribbean tour.
"I think we should be taking the seven batsmen who played at
the Oval, along with John Crawley, who I consider a classy
player, and Steve James, of Glamorgan, who is getting stacks of
runs," he said.
That would indicate that Atherton wants to stay on, at least as
player, and also suggests that Mark Ramprakash is back in
favour.
But the England captain emphasised that the win over Australia
would do nothing to influence him. "I have lots of things to
think about and then I`ll make the right decision."
At any selection meeting, Atherton doubtless will also throw his
lot behind Andy Caddick and Phil Tufnell as leading candidates
when the list of attackers for the West Indies is drawn up.
In Atherton`s view this was the best Australian side he had
played against, singling out bowlers Glenn McGrath and Shane
Warne. "They deserved to win the series and we missed our opportunities at Old Trafford and Headingley. The commitment of
our players was never in doubt but sometimes the quality of the
cricket we played was open to question.
"The consistency of players needs to improve, in particular a
more consistent approach to our batting."
Both Atherton and Mark Taylor found little to commend in the
Oval pitch, pointing out that the ball had begun to go through
the top on the first day. Taylor - who said this would be his
last tour of England as a player - described the wicket as "substandard" and the game itself as "remarkable".
Nottinghamshire`s team manager, Alan Ormrod, yesterday revealed that he and cricket committee chairman Stuart Foster
had "firmed up" their interest in signing Australia`s Shane
Warne with the offer of a two-year contract during further talks
with the leg-spinner`s representative, Austin Robertson.
With Warne, who is also sought by Lancashire, certain to be on
World Cup duty in 1999, the offer concerns the 1998 and 2000 seasons.
Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk/)