TITMUS_ATHERS_BAD_CAPTAIN_17JUN1997

Tuesday 17 June 1997

Atherton`s captaincy under fire

By Charles Randall

FRED TITMUS confirmed yesterday that he regarded Michael Atherton as "one of the worst captains since the War" and that during his time as an England selector he wanted him replaced.

Titmus, who stood down from the panel at the beginning of last summer, said he admired Atherton`s batting ability while regarding him as a "non-entity" on the field as captain.

His England players would disagree, yet Titmus would not be alone with this view. A top image consultant once said Atherton came over as arrogant, aloof and stubborn. She complained: "Why doesn`t he smile more and move faster? The body language is dreadful."

Atherton, however, could stifle the debate over his on-field demeanour if he recaptures the Ashes this summer, after a magnificent start.

He will surpass Peter May`s 41 Tests as captain on Thursday when he tosses the coin at Lord`s, longevity that has made Titmus, a former England off-spinner, squirm with irritation.

Titmus appeared to contradict Atherton`s impression that Ray Illingworth, chairman of selectors, wanted him sacked. He said: "I was anti-Atherton through my time as a selector. He stayed because Illy wanted him to."

The International Cricket Council have agreed to Bangladesh playing one-day internationals with the main Test nations. A request for Test status was turned down and Bangladesh were given two years to improve before the issue will be reconsidered.

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