Thorpe and Atherton relish new challenges
Staff and Agencies - 31 October 2000

Graham Thorpe: Captain of England as Hussain rests Photo © Paul McGregor CricInfo Ltd.

England will have a new captain tomorrow when Graham Thorpe leads the side in the warm-up match against a Patron's XI in Rawalpindi. Although Thorpe did stand in for Hussain briefly at Lord's against New Zealand, the decision illustrates that Thorpe's rehabilitation into the side is complete after he voluntarily missed the South African tour.

Several Test certainties (Stewart, Gough, Caddick and Hussain) are standing down from the game, to rest and to allow the newly arrived players the opportunity to benefit from match practise. It will be a first taste of the unique conditions of Pakistan for many, and even as experienced a campaigner as Mike Atherton admits that the next few days will provide a real challenge.

"The conditions are more alien than we are used to which naturally makes Pakistan favourites," the former England skipper said. "But we've all played a lot of cricket now, and I expect us to adapt fairly quickly to the challenges ahead."

Atherton revealed that his past as a leg-spinner could provide him with a useful insight when taking on the Pakistan bowlers.

"It helps in that you know what a leg-spinner is trying to do, as bad a leg-spinner as I was, at least I know the mechanics of it and what's going through his mind."

"Having Ian Salisbury here to bowl at the lads should also help because we will be able to talk to him and figure out what's going through a leg-spinner's mind and what they are trying to do."

"Batsmen have to work out the best way to play spin for themselves – they must have a game plan before they go to the wicket. The key to playing spin is trying to play with quick and precise footwork and get in a good position as quickly as possible to play your shots.''

Although he is a veteran of 102 Tests, Atherton also revealed that he regards the absence of success in subcontinent Tests as a blemish on his record.

"The England team should come to the sub-continent more often," he said

"It's sad that it's 13 years since we came to Pakistan and seven years since we went to India, because I think it improves your game."

"As a player, you should play in all conditions against different types of bowling and different attacks because it definitely improves your cricket."

He also admitted that, after a number of seam based series, that it will be a fresh challenge to face the Pakistan spinners.

"It will make a nice change for me to face spin. In England over the past two years spin has really been redundant in the conditions we've been playing in."

"Personally, I think that lessens the game. It's much better when spin plays a part because all the facets of the game come to the fore, and there should be some good cricket to watch and play in this series.''

Mohammad Shafiq and Munir Ansari are expected to provide the spin threat for The Patron's XI. Munir, at just 17, is regarded as a bowler of great promise and bowls in a similar style to the controversial Sri Lankan, Muralitharan. Both youngsters will no doubt be encouraged by the advice of The Parton's coach, Abdul Qadir.

England (from): MA Atherton (Lancashire), ME Trescothick (Somerset), MP Vaughan (Yorkshire), GP Thorpe (Surrey, capt), GA Hick (Worcestershire), C White (Yorkshire), PA Nixon (Kent, wkt), AJ Tudor (Surrey), DG Cork (Derbyshire), IDK Salisbury (Surrey), AF Giles (Warwickshire), MJ Hoggard (Yorkshire).

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