Yet this damp spring is proving to be a prod and a trudge for Atherton, who yesterday left the run-scoring to his new partner, Andrew Flintoff. While the former England captain pondered his dismal form, having recorded a two-ball duck, the young buck of Old Trafford made 92, his highest score in one-day competition.
Coupled with a dashing 44 from Warren Hegg at the death, Flintoff's forceful driving took Lancashire to a total of 258 on a day when victory was needed in order to stay in contention for a quarter-final place alongside Leicestershire and Warwickshire in the competitive Group A.
Atherton was back in the pavilion at 11.01am having been caught behind, down the legside, off Franklyn Rose's second ball.
Yesterday's quick turn-around leaves him with the miserable statistic of 85 runs in six completed innings so far. As ever, his No 1 supporter, David Lloyd, the England coach, was on hand to offer solace.
Lloyd refuses to panic over Atherton, believing the former England captain will prove his quality in two County Championship matches, away to Kent and Essex, before the England selectors are forced to pass judgment for the first Test against South Africa starting on June 4 at Edgbaston. ``There are a lot of ifs and buts,'' said Lloyd. ``It's too early in the summer to judge.''
Flintoff, who is 6ft 4in and weighs 15st, is rated so highly by Lancashire that county captain Wasim Akram believes if he were a Pakistani then he would be playing international cricket at the age of 20. Lloyd responded to Wasim's remark by telling him politely to mind his own business. ``We'll look after our boys and he should look after his,'' came the response.
Flintoff has taken on the 'pinch-hitting' role for Lancashire from Mike Watkinson and has proved very effective. Against Northants he was made to work for his runs, a damp pitch and wet outfield making batting difficult early on.
After Atherton's exit, Flintoff and John Crawley added 78 before the latter departed trying to hit Jeremy Snape for a second successive boundary. Flintoff took up the challenge, hitting powerfully off his front foot, bringing three sixes over mid-on. He fell in the 34th over when attempting a fourth, this time over mid-off, when caught by David Sales off Tony Penberthy.
Northants, who had lost three out of four qualifying matches, chose to rest Devon Malcolm and were also without captain Kevin Curran. He sustained a cut hand when fielding against Nottinghamshire on Monday and handed the leadership to wicketkeeper David Ripley.