Athers

ACS Book of the Week

Each week we spotlight a fascinating title from the vast collection catalogued in the Cricket Bibliography project, drawing on insightful (but not necessarily positive!) reviews from the archives of our journal. Today we bring you Robert Brooke on David Norrie’s Athers: The Authorised Biography of Michael Atherton (1997).

One always felt that no sportsman should be accorded a biography until his career was over, but since it has long been apparent that this reviewer’s opinion is out of step with the contemporary scene and with modern ideas, no surprise is felt at the appearance of the ‘authorised’ Michael Atherton biography with the subject still well short of his thirtieth birthday.

Not that Atherton’s has not been a remarkably full career thus far, but his career is possibly little more than half done; he could last another ten years in the top flight, though after some of the experiences described herein one does sometimes wonder how he lasted as long as he has.

Really, as much as a book about Atherton, what he have here is the story of the shambles which has been the organisation of English cricket during Atherton’s career. How any management could make such a disastrous fist of things, almost as if the incompetence was deliberate, is quite mind boggling.

Though Atherton is by no means blameless in the regular scenes of farce, on the whole one has the utmost sympathy. The way a promising side on the West Indian tour was dismantled by Illingworth must have been nearly heartbreaking, as was the chairman’s subsequent behaviour.

The most amazing thing is that in 1997, after a record run—of appearances, not success—as England skipper, he still seems keen to continue in the job. Verily, he is a better man than I. A more perceptive reader may find some clues as to his motives. Atherton may well think he is the best man for the job, and what is more, he may be right.

This is, of course, not a statistical work, but one feels that Atherton’s record deserves more than the allotted two-and-a-half pages. Despite everything, Atherton’s batting return as Test captain is as good as most, and much better than many. In first-class cricket he averages over forty; a career length similar to that of Gooch or Gower could see him in line for 100 centuries. Whatever the future holds, one feels he has been underrated as a player. On the question of his captaincy the jury has yet to retire, and there could still be much new evidence to sway their decision.