Michael Andrew Atherton by Alan Atherton

The questions that people often ask me about Michael are:-

1. Did I expect Michael to play cricket for England?

2. What part did Woodhouses Cricket Club play in his development?

3. During his career, which moment or achievement stands out?

The answer to the first question is, of course, I had no idea that Michael would represent his country or that he would act as captain in 54 test matches. All parents with aspiring young cricketers hope they might go to first-class cricket or to play for England but the reality is that only a small percentage ever do. In fact, Michael’s progress through the system was exactly as the system intended: school and club cricket, Manchester Boys, Lancashire Boys, England at under 15 and under 19 level and, of course, first class cricket at Cambridge and Lancashire.

The first time I really felt Michael might go to play at top level was when he was awarded the Sir Jack Hobbs Trophy (presented to the outstanding schoolboy at Under 15 level). When I saw some of the previous winners (David Gower, Mike Gatting) I knew he had a good chance of making the grade.

On the second question: what part did Woodhouses play in his development, the answer is, on the face of it, not a significant amount. He did make his debut for the 1^st X1 as a 13 year old, (I was dropped for him!), but his other representative commitments meant that his appearances were few. However, it was while watching Woodhouses first team as a young lad during the early 1970’s that Michael caught the cricketing bug. It was one of our former overseas players T. Srinivasan who showed Michael how to put a ball into an old sock and hang it from the washing line. This enabled him to spend hours playing and helped him develop his ability to watch the ball.

On a personal level, one of the matches that Michael played for Woodhouses which stands out, was a village cup semi-final against Forge Valley. I was captain and was confident with Michael able to play we would win through to the final at Lord’s. Unfortunately broke his finger while batting and was unable to bowl his leg breaks and we lost. This was the only time in the whole of his career that he broke a bone in his hand despite batting against the likes of Marshall, Ambrose, Walsh, Patterson, McGrath, Hughes, Donald, Pollock, Wasim Akram and Waquar Younis etc.

On the third question: which aspect or achievement in Michael’s career stands out, the answer for me is easy. Others might mention his 115 caps, his sixteen centuries, the 175 not out against South Africa, run out at Lord’s for 99. Some might even mention the “dirt in his pocket affair”. My stand out moment would be the Trent Bridge Test when Michael and Alan Donald went head to head for almost two hours. The atmosphere was electric and it is the best period of test cricket I have ever watched. I remember thinking at the time that Alan Donald in spite of all his efforts, was unable to do what some young unknown lad playing for Thornham under 9’s had achieved many years ago when he planted one on the head of an up and coming young eight year old playing for Woodhouses.

The formative Years

1973 was to be a watershed year in the history of the Club. There were four significant developments at Woodhouses CC which had a major influence not only on cricket in future years but also English cricket. Firstly the Club had tasted and savoured for the first time the Haig Village Knockout Championship experience. Secondly, the Club had left the North Western League, which it had helped to form, to join the ambitious expanding Lancashire and Cheshire League. Thirdly, the Club signed a professional for the first time in their sixty five year’s existence. And fourthly, a new player called Alan Atherton joined the Club part way through the season. In his first game for the Club he brought his wife Wendy and their young son, Michael, who would have been 5 at the time.

This was to be the first of many visits by Michael to first eleven fixtures that season. The abiding memory of Michael at the tender age of 5 was how avidly he watch the game and his father playing for Woodhouses. While all other young boys were running around or playing on bikes, not young Michael. He would not move from first ball to last. He remained focused on the game, witnessing intently and then putting into practice what he had seen in the back garden, to the detriment of the kitchen windows.

Fortunately his Primary School at Briscoe Lane played cricket and encouraged him at sport. It was not long before he represented the school and started to play for the juniors at Woodhouses. It was clear to all who saw him that ‘the boy’ had real talent. In fact he was something of a child prodigy at cricket even though he was always small in stature for his age. In the early days for the Club’s juniors he would struggle to get the ball off the square but what he may have lacked in power he certainly made up for in technique, skill and application. He made his debut for the Club under 13’s at the age of seven, Manchester Schools under 11’s at eight and Lancashire under 13’s at 10. He was an outstanding performer at all the different age group levels. Under the careful, watchful and enthusiastic eye of his father and various cricket coaches he continued to develop his skills and natural talent.

At the age of 14 in 1982 he made his senior debut for Woodhouses 1^st X1 and played in 7 consecutive matches. His 7 innings that season yielded 230 runs at an average of 32.86 and his top score was 81. This spoke volumes for Michael who was still very much on the small side for his age. When the ‘diminutive’ Michael first strode out to the wicket the opposition captain’s first reaction was to post several close fielders close in around the bat. This did not perturb Michael in the slightest. He simply rose to the challenge. He took all the opportunities comfortably in his stride playing with assurance against League professionals and many seasoned and experienced club senior bowlers. He was never short on confidence, concentration or application He had the will and clear determination to succeed. Traits that were to become increasingly evident throughout his whole career.

It should also be added that Michael as a junior was a gifted bowler of leg-breaks and googlies. He continued to develop his bowling skills and had quite some success at County level before he had to retire prematurely from the bowling front due to a recurring back complaint. His best season for Lancashire CCC with the ball was in 1990 when he topped the bowling averages for the County. He had 356.3 overs, 85 maidens for 1111 runs and 42 wickets at an average of 26.45.

Club records for Woodhouses 1^st X1 show Michael’s contributions between 1984-86 as follows:-

1984 Batting:  14 innings 354 runs at an average of 32.18

         Bowling: 105.1 overs 15 maidens 20 wickets at an average of 24.35

1985 Batting: 6 innings 185 runs at an average of 37.00

         Bowling: 85.4 overs 19 maidens 25 wickets at an average of 10.92

1986 Batting: 13 innings 496 runs at an average of 55.11 (Maiden century for the 1^st X1 against 

         Swinton – 107)

         Bowling: 87 overs 13 maidens 12 wickets at an average of 22.0

Ove the years Woodhouses 1^st X1 had to share Michael’s undoubted talents with Manchester Grammar School and Cambridge University who had first call on his services. This meant that his appearances for Woodhouses were limited by his availability.

He had passed the extremely tough and demanding entrance examination for Manchester Grammar School where he went on to set numerous batting records. He continued his path to sporting and academic excellence by progressing to Cambridge University, where he gained an Honours Degree in History and led the Light Blues and Combined University Sides. He had always been Captain. Every side he played for he captained and so it came as no surprise that he was selected to lead the Combined Universities to the dizzy heights of a Benson and Hedges quarter final in 1987. This was no mean achievement when previous combined sides were considered a walkover by all County teams who met them. He had the ability to instil confidence and a sense of purpose into that young and inexperienced side.

In 1987 he made his debut for Cambridge and he was given a part time contract with the County. He also made his debut for Lancashire that summer and topped 1000 first class runs. He went on to Captain Young England in Sri Lanka. Paull Allott recalled his early days at Lancashire with a feature in The Cricketer entitled “Born To Lead”.

“When the future England Cricket Captain first walked into the Lancashire dressing room at Southport in 1987 it was immediately apparent to all that confidence was something he did not lack. He scored 50 out of a hundred partnership on a turning ‘bunsen’ against that wily campaigner Norman Gifford and set Lancashire on their way to six wins out of six to end a memorable season, second in the County Championship.

His confidence and enthusiasm were infectious to a team in need of rejuvenation and his determination not to be dominated by senior players or the hierarchical system that existed at Old Trafford was obvious. Future England Cricket Captain (FEC) was transformed by the boys into a sobriquet of the same initials but the middle word was educated and the other two I leave to your imagination!”

His appearances at Woodhouses in 1988 and 1989 had become fewer and fewer and amounted to just a handful because of his commitments and success at County level. He turned out one Sunday in 1989 in a local derby against Newton Heath just prior to being named in the England squad against the Australians. He hit an effortless 80 odd against lively bowling pausing only to complain that the pitch was very slow. The same could not be said of his leg break bowling. Cross with an opposing batsman who had not walked despite knocking the cover off one to the keeper, he flung down a bouncer the next ball. The batsman ducked and the luckless ‘keeper took it smack on the nose. This was regrettable his last appearance for Woodhouses as he was no longer eligible to play for Woodhouses once he was awarded his County Cap. Within a week of playing for Woodhouses at Greaves Field, Mabel Street, Newton Heath he played at an altogether different ground when he made his debut for England against Australia in the Fifth Test at Trent Bridge!

The rest is history and very well documented.

When he was selected England Captain the nations press camped out in his garden and outside his parents clamouring for interviews, Even the Cricket Club was contacted by some of the tabloids and the Club was featured by BBC Look North West. David Lloyd wrote an article which summed up just how the Club felt about the news “Joy In The Sticks As Our Lad Gets The Nod!”