Rather Atherton than me!
Hadn’t seen that before. I was wondering when Atherton would go the hook. All things considered (i.e. the pace and direction of the bowling) he didn’t handle it too badly….

Fiery.

I remember watching that spell transfixed in front of the TV on the Sunday afternoon - precipitated by Iron Mike’s refusal to walk after gloving behind. I happened to be between graduating from university and my first job, so the next (and final) day I caught the train up to Trent Bridge, paid a tenner on the gate and saw England knock off quite a testing last innings target to square the series with one match to go, before joining in with the traditional pitch invasion and presentation in front of the pavilion (now long since forbidden!) My abiding memory of the last day was seeing Alec Stewart come out and hit 5 or 6 successive boundaries as his first scoring shots. Amazing now to think that after going on to win the final Test at Headingley that that was England’s first victory in a 5 Test series for 12 years!

Anyone remember the draw at Old Trafford with England 9 wickets down and Angus Fraser surviving the final over from Allan Donald to keep the series alive? Was this series a defining moment in English cricket? I certainly think so.

Atherton played the over well, all things considered. For some reason he seems a thoroughly likeable feller, can’t help liking him. Helps that he’s articulate and insightful behind the mic too.

Astonishingly I was there to witness this monumental spell. Sitting high up behind the bowler’s arm in the new stand.

What was so amazing (apart from every other ball being a bouncer) was the way they both managed to sustain such high intensity cricket for so long. And for Atherton to play with the intensity and will to crush Donald of an Australian rather than a weak-willed Englishman of old.

It was one of those moments that makes you love Test cricket. A real privilege.

I only wish i was old enough to have seen that live.

Atherton was the man in those days. Carried the team himself for several years, as well as a bunch of yes men to Ray Illingworth.

That was such a great passage of play. Proper Test cricket. Everyone who watched that live was transfixed, as you can tell from Matt’s comment. I think I must have been sat next to him on the sofa. Yet you’ve got Gower, plus what I think is Barry Richards and Chris Broad sounding like they’re half asleep or watching Neighbours on the other side. It’s no wonder Channel 4 appeared so revolutionary.

The Atherton-Stewart run out was in India. It’s in Atherton’s autobiography, fairly early in both Test careers. Atherton drifted in and out of the team like Bell for the first couple of years, and he puts that down as a particular low point.

What a great video. I remember it well (almost), but it certainly brought back memories. I would still love to have a lip reader provide the transcript!!

I just love the really competitive, fiery games!

Deano was more Lard than Bard, I’m afraid. Curtley, I thnk it was, was bowling with a white sweat band on his wrist, which D Jones, whatever he was ( or rather wasn’t) thinking, asks umpires to get Curtley Ambrose to remove the sweat bands for he couldn’t see the ball properly. Curtley promptly rips Australia apart with some fiery fast bowling. Well done, Deano.