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Michael Atherton has conceded that he might have done better to follow Graham Thorpe's example and abandon his Ashes tour last winter in an attempt to resolve his back problems.

Atherton has not played since the fourth Test in Melbourne at the end of December, and only lasted that long in Australia thanks to a number of cortisone injections. ``In retrospect it might have been better to do the same as Thorpe and come home and get it right sooner, because the injections only mask the pain, not cure it. The problem is just wear and tear on a disc and it is not degenerative,'' he said at Acklam Park in Middlesbrough yesterday, where rain washed out the first day's play in his comeback match - the Roses second XI confrontation.

Three months' rehabilitation in London, strengthening stomach muscles to take the strain off his back, have been successfully completed. ``It feels quite good but only time will tell,'' Atherton said. ``I haven't been able to have a net at Old Trafford due to the World Cup and the wet weather, and I've played in one benefit game for Warren Hegg. The plan is if everything went all right here, I would declare myself fit for Lancashire's game at The Oval next week. A lot now depends on the weather.''

Also returning in the four-day game at Middlesbrough is Yorkshire's recruit from Somerset, Richard Harden, who has five pins in a two-inch metal plate in the left hand broken by Gloucestershire's Jon Lewis in the first match of the season.

Yorkshire's former captain Phil Carrick is also fit again after an illness described as ``a mild form of leukaemia, but not life threatening''.

Former Leicestershire batsmen Tim Boon has been appointed coach of England under-19s. He replaces John Abrahams, who has stepped down to spend more time with his family.

In three years, Abrahams guided his team to victory in the under-19 World Cup in South Africa, and had an unbeaten record in Test series against Pakistan (twice), Zimbabwe, South Africa and New Zealand.

England play three Tests and three one-day games against Australia under-19s later this summer.

Worcestershire will take on a World XI at New Road on Friday. The 50-over game replaces the county's scheduled four-day match against New Zealand, who are still involved in the World Cup.