ATHERS, the Authorised Biography of Michael Atherton.

London: Headline. Very Good/Very Good. 1997. First Edition. Hard Cover. 8vo 0747217688 First printing. Dust jacket unclipped. Blue cloth boards with bright silver titling on spine. No ownership marks. 316 pages clean and tight. Michael Atherton's rise to the toughest job in English sport was predicted as early as his days at Manchester Grammar School, and the England call came within a few weeks of his graduating from Cambridge University in 1989. He celebrated his debut with a duck. After establishing himself as Gooch's opening partner and vice-captain, Atherton struggled with form and fitness. It was only after the Lord's Test in 1993 that he became heir apparent and took over the captaincy for the last part of the series. There followed a honeymoon period, but it came to an abrupt end during the 1994 South Africa series when Atherton was at the centre of a ball-tampering row at Lord's, which is discussed fully here. He ignored calls for his resignation and bounced back a stronger character and a better player. His heroic performance to save the match at The Wanderers in the second Test in South Africa was described by Ray Illingworth as `one of the great innings' and showed just how crucial lie had become to England's fortunes, always leading by example. Yet, a year later in Zimbabwe, after a rare slump in form, there were calls for him to go. Once again, however, `Iron Mike' fought back, inspiring his side to a 2-0 win in New Zealand with some brilliant batting. This book reveals the truth about Atherton's relationship with chairman of selectors Illingworth - were there selection disagreements, as widely reported? How did the two men get on? What was the effect of Illingworth's public pronouncements on team morale? Atherton talks frankly about the problems of being captain, and dealing with controversial characters. He discusses his motivations, his continuing back problems, his struggle to instil pride and passion into those who play for England, his frustrations at the lack of a more competitive domestic set-up, and the increasing intrusions into his private life. He explains his style of captaincy, what he expects from his England team and where he sees the future of cricket in England, with or without him. .