Mike Atherton : Good morning everyone. Thanks for coming along.
Sam : hey
FAHEEM HABIB : HI MIKE
Sam Collins : hiya
sathees : good morning mic
george formby : hi
Riff : Hi Mike. The England team is definitely fighting back since the summer of 99, but what additional factors do you think need to be considered to make us truly great once again?
Mike Atherton : I think the England test team is in pretty good shape. They have a nucleus of experienced players and a settled team selection. But to win things like the Ashes and the World Cup, you need special players who can turn a match. This is where we hope the likes of Andrew Flintoff will have a big impact.
Steven : Michael, would you like to see young players like Aftab Habib or Owais Shah get their chance in the test squad?
Mike Atherton : I'm disappointed the selectors didn't pick one young player to fill the gap at number six, with the batting line up looking experienced and settled it would have been the perfect opportunity to pick an academy player.
Simon : Do you think there's a north south divide in cricket? Did you encounter any hostility from the establishment because you're a northerner?
Mike Atherton : Not at all, no. Throughout the time I sat on selection there was never any bias towards north or south or to any county in particular.
Tom : athers - do you think tendulkar is past it? and can ever get back to being the world's best batsman?
Mike Atherton : I think he's a long way from being past it. He's the perfect age for improving and he's not far short from being top of his game.
Abhijeet : Who according to you is the better batsman, Tendulkar or Lara?
Mike Atherton : I think Lara is more thrilling and has a touch of genius but in terms of consistency and run-making then Tendulkar
Count Vronsky : MIke how do you react to the accusation that watching a game of cricket could put a person into a catatonic state much akin to rigomortis?
Mike Atherton laughs
Mike Atherton : Well I think if you have watched Test Cricket over the last year or so it would be very difficult to say that it was a dull game. Australia are pushing back the boundaries and other teams are catching up.
Darth_vader : Mike, how do you prepare mentally for a match saving innings like johannesburg in 95 when you know the pressures on you?
Mike Atherton : Well all the preparation for any innings is done in the two days prior to the game. We try and make sure that our technique is in good order and that you've thought about how you are going to play every bowler on the opposing team. Then you just trust your talent and concentrate.
Paul Ward : Mike, how do you think you would have coped with playing against 'Bodyline' bowling against Larwood and Voce? And what would you have changed in your batting?
Mike Atherton : I think we did play against Bodyline bowling - modern day, quick line bowling often has three or four bounces and over but the batsmen these days have helmets and chest guards and so they are much more protected than batsmen in the 1930s.
BenWombournecc : Which young English players would you tip to have a great future ahead of them?
Mike Atherton : Alex Tudor. If Stephen Harnison can get fit he has got a lot going for him. And although I haven't seen much of Ian Bell clearly he is highly regarded.
Kieran : Was that battle between you and Alan Donald one of your finest moments in test cricket? If not what is your finest moment in test cricket. You must have an array of choices to choose from?
Mike Atherton : The battle with him was the most memorable, yes.
Vaughany : mike i play academy cricket in australia for now. my mate trained with the first team once in the nets and he had to face brett lee. brett put in a yorker and broke my mates ankle. chances are it will be my turn next year so do u have any tips for facing a bowler like brett?
Mike Atherton chuckles
Mike Atherton : Find a bowling machine, turn it up to 90mph, and get used to the pace that way.
Stew : Morning Athers, 2day ive got 2 open the batting against a side i left on bad terms. Have u got any tips for me because im dreading going back there.
Mike Atherton : Shut out all the sledging and just focus and concentrate on the ball, Stew.
Richard Neale : how do you rate David Nashs chances of being the England keeper?
Mike Atherton : Not highly. I think, after Alec Stewart, they'll look at James Foster, Chris Read or Mark Wallace.
Philip Wood : how old were you when you started to play cricket? who was your first county you played for?
Mike Atherton : I was seven and I've only ever played for Lancashire.
Samuel : Which county side in england do you think will have the best chances of winning the championship this year?
Mike Atherton : Surrey have the best squad and greatest strength in depth so they have to be favourites.
tombryan : Do u still play at all?
Mike Atherton : The answer is no.
Tom : do you think enough cricket is played in english schools at the moment? if not is that the fault of government or individual schools and if so how can this lack of cricket be rectified in place of 'sports' like rounders?
Mike Atherton : ECB says that more school children play cricket than ever before. I don't know if these are to be believed but they are adamant that they are, so who are we to argue?
LBW : What do you think is the cause of Crickets recent decline in popularity? Too many draws, rain stops play? Do you think its time Crickets rules were reformed?
Mike Atherton : I think in Test Cricket recently there have been more results and more exciting cricket being played.
Kieran : What is the atmosphere in the England changing rooms before a match? especially when Robert Croft is around?
Mike Atherton laughs
Mike Atherton : Well it's full of different characters. Gough and Croft are very upbeat. I was more reserved. So it's made up of lots of different types.
FireHot : Loosing the world cup finals in 1992, that was the 3rd time england made to the final of a world cup. How did it feel as you were part of the team?
Mike Atherton : I wasn't actually, I was injured, I was recovering from a back operation.
carolyn : Who was the most terrifying bowler that you've ever faced & why?
Mike Atherton : The fastest was Waqar Younis, but Wasim Akram and Courtenay Walsh were awful to face.
John : How annoyed were you that grounds men at Lord's and the Oval prepared pitches more like you would find in Lahore or Karachi for the 1996 series against Pakistan? You seemed very angry at the time and I though it was a disgrace.
Mike Atherton : Well, the England captain doesn't interfere with the preparation of pitches but I would have preferred to have seen a little bit more green grass.
Lord Lagaan : Who do you consider the most technically correct player in England and overseas in the present day? I believe you were one of them.
Mike Atherton : Michael Vaughan in England... and Sachim Tendulkar.
James C : Athers i was wondering what made u decide to retire and on the subject of retirement do you think Gus's (Angus Fraser) decision to retire came as a bit of a surprise decision as a middlesex supporter i was a bit gutted
Mike Atherton : I retired partly because my back wasn't great and also because I had played for fifteen years and just wanted a change. Angus' retirement was perfectly timed.
Chat Ed : Our half hour with MIKE is almost up, so last three questions now...
Lee Fatibene : Do you think England have any chance in the next Ashes series? I Spoke to Darren Gough during the NZ tour and he was not too optimistic!!!!
Mike Atherton : I'm reasonably optimistic. I think if we can win both series at home this Summer, keep a settled team and build confidence, then we'll be in good shape for the Winter.
James1 : Who do you think will be the England captain after Nassar Hussain?
Mike Atherton : Marcus Trescothick.
Quasi : why don't the cricket team release a song like the england football team do?
Mike Atherton : Probably because listening to the England football team song it's so bad the England players don't want to go down that route. Only Robert Croft can sing in the team anyway.
Chat Ed : That's it! Thanks for coming and talking to us MIKE! There will of course be a full transcript of this chat available very soon on www.channel4.com/TALK.
Kieran : ta mike
wayne : thanks for your time mike
Mike Atherton : Thank you everyone. Have a good day. Goodbye.
Davy : Thanks Mike
Steven : tanks Mike
Jatster : ta mike
Philip Wood : Thanks 4 talking
Jon : thanks mike
Mike Atherton leaves the room.
