Wisden Overview
Amid the political turmoil that dominated Yorkshire cricket in the late 1970s, the thrilling promise of Bill Athey's strokeplay was a light in the darkness. But Athey's innings would often start brilliantly then sputter out, and this was a metaphor for his career. Though he played 23 Tests in the 1980s, this reflected less his record (average: 22.97) than the over- extended commitment to him from Peter May, the chairman of selectors. He played one crucial strategic innings: on the first day of the 1986-87 Ashes series, his tedious 76 blunted the much-hyped but largely mythical Australian attack, setting up England's unexpected triumph in both Test and series. Athey left Yorkshire, mildly traumatised, and drifted, never quite finding cricketing contentment. But he has become a respected coach, his own struggles helping not hindering. Matthew Engel

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