ATHERTON_FALLOUT_26JUL94

Fall-out from Atherton controversy

Two ex-England stars have now expressed their views on the Atherton ball-tampering scandal.

Geoff Boycott has said that he thinks Atherton should resign his captaincy. The Yorkshireman apparently feels that the situation has become far too awkward for Atherton to function as before. He does not, however, believe that Atherton's actions in themselves necessitate his resignation.

Fred Trueman has also called for Atherton to give up the captaincy. The ex-pace-ace, also a Yorkshireman, has stated that having seen the TV pictures, Atherton's actions are just far too suspect to ignore.

The campaign to strip Athers of the captaincy has also been joined by respected BBC cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew. Having followed the situation from the start, Agnew now feels that the intense media spotlight will make Atherton's position as captain untenable.

====> MORE This is a transcript of the BBC's Radio 5 Live news broadcast Tuesday, 26th June 1994 8:30 a.m. BST.

Several former England players say that Atherton should step down as captain this morning, in the wake of the ball-tampering allegations. One of those men is Geoff Boycott, the former England opener, he says, Atherton should quit before his life is ruined by the media scrutiny and suggestions.

Another is the BBC's cricket correspondent, Jonathen Agnew, who also feels Atherton's position is untenable:

"Mike Atherton is a personal friend, and until last Saturday, I believed that he was absolutely the right man to be captain of England. This morning, most reluctantly, I find myself calling for him to step down. Last night, along with millions of other cricket fans, I saw television slow-motion replays, which seriously called into question Atherton's assertion that he didn't transfer any dirt from his pocket onto the ball. The authorities still stand behind their claim that the condition of the ball wasn't altered. But in my opinion, any attempts to alter the condition of the ball, must be just as serious. Apparently groomed for the job of captency for several years, Atherton revitalised the England team in the West Indies, to the extent that they won in Barbadous for the first time for 59 years. He appeared set to lead his country into the next century. But yesterday, he was described by Mr. Burge as `foolish in the extreme'. And the referee confirmed that he had been misled by Atherton during saturday's hearing, something which concerned him more than anything else, because of the effect on the image of the game. Following the hounding of Pakistan's fast-bowlers, 2 years ago, English cricket mustn't appear, to the outside world, to be above suspicion. I'm not suggesting that Mike Atherton be dropped from the England team, nor that he may not lead them again in the future, but for the time being, and probably for his own good, he should step down."

Thoughts of our cricket correspondent, Jonathen Agnew. Despite his call, Lords say there'll be no enquiry into the affair. Chairman of selectors, Ray Illingworth, has reasserted his backing for Atherton to continue as captain.

Another man worried, though, by the whole issue, is former England Test bowler, Fred Trueman:

"What I saw of the closeup by the BBC cameras: it looked to me to be very, very suspicious. You know, I have always been a supporter of Mike Atherton's, but when I actually saw his hand come out of his pocket and on onto the ball, and then later, further that he admitted he didn't tell the referee everything. That he admitted the next night that he was using dirt. It looked highly suspicious to me that there was something happening. I don't know, it's all very, very sad."