Atherton devoted to silence, still...

By Ted Corbett

LONDON, AUG. 26. We said farewell to Michael Atherton at the Oval today; whether he is saying farewell to us is far from clear.

England, 232 behind on the fourth morning of the fifth Test after Mark Ramprakash and Darren Gough were dismissed, was forced to follow on and Atherton was first out, for nine to Glenn McGrath for the 19th time in their personal battle. As Atherton moved from the wicket, the crowd stood and applauded him all the way to the dressing room, thinking it would be his last appearance in a Test. He replied with several waves of his bat, which is by his stoic standards much more than the courtier's bows with which Curtly Ambrose responded to a similar ovation in 1995. (Yes, I know. We were wrong and five years later he took another final bow).

As Atherton ran up the long staircase through the crowd outside the changing rooms the Australians joined the celebration and at the top he was clapped and slapped into the quiet of their private quarters by his team mates, led by the captain Nasser Hussain and Alec Stewart, another veteran with a short career left. Atherton has said nothing about his future but, surprisingly for a man who has lived in the limelight for 15 years and who is about to step into a television commentary box he is devoted to silence about his plans. His Sunday newspaper column, which was expected to reveal his thinking, was devoted to 1,000 words in praise of Mark Butcher.

So what else is new? He spent 52 Tests as England captain hiding his intentions and emotions and he is too old a leopard to change his spots. We will know on Tuesday if he intends to tour India where a few easy runs can be added to his 7,728 in 115 Tests and where he can indulge his love of the touring life. Will he? Won't he? Don't ask me. I've only known him 13 years.

He has been one of England's greatest opening batsman, a stride behind Jack Hobbs, Herbert Sutcliffe, Len Hutton and Geoff Boycott, a touch better than John Edrich and Cyril Washbrook. His undefeated 185 at Johannesburg in 1995-6 was a wonderful exhibition of defensive batting, his struggle with a permanently busted back has been an example to those cricketers who cry off if their finger nail is bent and at 33 he is right to step down while he is at his own summit. The crowd was right to express their admiration but, like so many in the opening batsman's trade, it is respect not affection that our first thought when he is discussed.

It had been a murky day from the start - the Millennium Wheel was soon out of sight - and by the time Marcus Trescothick and Mark Butcher had taken the score to 40, five lights shone from the scoreboard and lunch was taken. England had been happy to walk off because time equalled a draw in their eyes. By tea the drizzle suggested an end to play shortly and four lights gleamed

from the scoreboard. 

The Wheel had disappeared more completely than Atherton when play 
was  finally called off, leaving Australia 90 overs to take  nine 
wickets  tomorrow  to  finish  4-1 winner  of  a  series  it  has 
dominated from the start.

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