Atherton heads back to the trenches

Michael Atherton rarely uses a word when none would do.

Returned to barracks for the recent one-day series against Pakistan and Australia, he has barely uttered a sound.

Come Thursday, however, it will be time for the Lancastrian to man the trenches again.

He should expect an immediate volley of unfriendly fire, with Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee and Jason Gillespie lying in wait as the first Ashes test gets underway at Edgbaston.

If the taciturn Atherton has largely been out of the public eye of late, he will certainly have been discussed in private.

The Australians, prizing his wicket above all others, will have been chewing over the right-handed opener's perceived failings at length, particularly his tendency to square up to the ball seaming away.

With Graham Thorpe and Michael Vaughan both out injured and captain Nasser Hussain only just back from a broken thumb, England's batting already has a fragile look. Atherton represents the one major stumbling block.

His renewed duel with McGrath could hold the key to England's chances of competing against the world's best side.

MASSIVE EDGE

The bowler starts with a massive psychological edge.

He has dismissed Atherton 13 times in 22 innings, 11 times in single figures. When the "Pigeon" plays, Atherton averages under 20, a score which doubles when the pace bowler is absent.

"He's one of the guys I'm keen to target again after having a fair bit of success against him in the past," McGrath says.

"If he does well, the team does well.

"It's simple stuff to Athers...line and length with the odd good short ball seems to work."

The former England captain, however, will relish testing himself to the limit again as his career, hampered in recent years by a degenerative back condition, draws towards its close.

As important to the England batting as Geoff Boycott and Graham Gooch before him, he often dredges out his best in difficult situations.

The definitive example of Atherton's bloody-mindedness came against South Africa in December 1995 when he saved the second test with an unbeaten innings of 185, spanning 10 hours, 43 minutes and 492 deliveries.

CONTINUING VALUE

The 33-year-old's continuing value to England was underlined last year in Pakistan.

He laid the groundwork by batting through the first two sessions of the series in Lahore, putting on 134 with Marcus Trescothick, before scoring a dogged 125 in Karachi as England snatched the series 1-0.

Dogged, indeed, sums up the man.

England's recent test revival -- four wins and a draw in five series following years of decline and disappointment -- has been built on dogged determination.

Nasser Hussain's workmen have rarely sparkled in attack, instead concentrating on shoring up the defences before trying to sneak past their increasingly frustrated opponents.

The Australians, however, have an altogether different approach, blessed with such lavish all-round quality that they can afford to risk playing the game at a fast pace.

Under Steve Waugh, they have won 17 of 24 tests. Only two have ended in stalemates.

Atherton, known as Captain Grumpy during his time in charge of England, will do what he can to disrupt their progress by doing what he does best. It's unlikely to be pretty. It's likely to be dogged.

Mail Cricket Editor