England skipper Atherton awarded OBE (14 June 1997)
MIKE Atherton today joined a highly select band of Lancashire cricketers when he was awarded the OBE
14-Jun-1997
14 Jun 1997
England skipper Atherton awarded OBE
Lancashire Evening Telegraph
MIKE Atherton today joined a highly select band of Lancashire
cricketers when he was awarded the OBE. Atherton, 29, is only
the fifth Lancashire player to be recognised by the Queen,
following Brian Statham, Cyril Washbrook and his boyhood hero
Clive Lloyd, who all received a CBE, and most recently Jack
Simmons MBE.
The award comes with England basking in the glory of last week's
famous victory over Australia in the First Test at Edgbaston,
but Atherton revealed that the decision was made a while ago.
"I had the letter saying I was being put forward a couple of
weeks ago," he explained in a quick press conference during the
lunch interval of Lancashire's Championship game against Kent,
held in the Old Trafford committee room where a picture of the
Queen, Lancashire's patron, hangs on the wall.
"To be honest I'd forgotten about it until I saw all the
photographers hanging around and guessed what they might be here
for."
It is recognition of Atherton's durability and longevity as
England captain. Next week at Lord's he will break the late
Peter May's record of leading England in Test matches - and will
now lead out the team as Mike Atherton, OBE.
His reign as skipper started during the last Ashes summer four
years ago when, despite his well-documented nickname of FEC
(Future England Captain), he came out of the blue as a surprise
replacement for Graham Gooch.
It has been a turbulent period, with major rows over the dirt in
the pocket affair at Lord's in 1994 and calling a Pakistani
journalist a buffoon during the 1996 World Cup.
"There is a big week coming up, we are 1-0 up in the series and
the next Test is absolutely crucial in the effort to bring the
Ashes home," he added.
"I suppose the attention is now going to be a little bit more on
me than I would like. I just hope the people turn up at Lord's
and see a cracking Test - it will be if it's anything like
Edgbaston."
Lancashire chairman Bob Bennett, also chairman of the England
management committee, said: "This is a great reward for his
dogged determination in four years as England skipper."
However, some of Atherton's Lancashire team-mates came up with
another explanation of OBE as he could only make five against
Kent before going caught behind to Kent's England hopeful Martin
McCague.
"Out blooming early," or "Out before everyone else," were two of
the suggestions doing the rounds.
But the smiles didn't last long as Lancashire slumped deeper
into trouble after following Kent to recover from 92-4 to post a
first innings total of 373, with nightwatchman Ben Phillips
scoring his maiden first class century.
Zimbabwe leg-spinner Paul Strang claimed 3-20 in 13 overs to
reduce them to 113-5, still needing 91 to avoid the follow-on.
Source :: Lancashire Evening Telegraph (https://www.reednews.co.uk/let/)