No player in the history of the game has scored more Test runs (1,083) or centuries (five) at Trent Bridge than former England captain Michael Atherton, but why was Nottingham such a happy hunting ground for Channel 4's latest acquisition?

“I suppose fundamentally it’s a good pitch and as an opener if you have a good pitch it gives you half a chance,” reasoned Atherton.

“Clearly if the pitch is not so good then as an opener you’ve got the tough end of the stick (because you’re always facing the new ball) but Nottingham was always a pretty good pitch over the years and therefore you had half a chance.”

But Atherton's ability to convert those half-chances into full blown innings of stature was (and remains) unsurpassed at Trent Bridge. In 11 Tests there he scored five centuries and a 98 not out, amassing 1,083 runs in the process at a decidedly healthy average of 60.17.

His nearest competitor in terms of runs scored is Denis Compton (955 at 95.50) but interestingly the Notts ground has been far from a guarateed run-harvest for England players over the past decade, as witnessed by Alec Stewart's record there. In eight Tests he has so far managed just 353 runs at 29.42, with a highest score of 87.

Despite that there's little doubt Nottingham remains one of England's better batting tracks – aren't they all good at present? - and one that Atherton found immediately to his liking.

“The Oval changed in my time,” he said. “It really went from being a fast bouncy pitch to a spinner’s paradise. There was always something there, either for the quick bowlers at the beginning of the decade or the spinners at the end of the decade, but Trent Bridge, by and large, I would say was a batsman’s pitch."

Not that his liking for the Nottingham ground is purely down to the quality and reliablity of the wicket. “It’s a funny thing about grounds. I got my first Test match hundred there, against New Zealand, and so you always have happy memories of the place,” admitted Athers.

“The moment you walk through the door you feel confident and you have a nice feel when you go out to bat. You’ve just got happy memories and a good feel for the place, and I think that helps as well. You feel confident going in to bat because you’ve got good vibes rather than bad and negative memories.”

The fact his maiden Test century was scored there – 151 against New Zealand in 1990 – also helps.

“Your first Test hundred is always special,” said Athers. “I remember Jack Russell was at the other end and at the time he seemed far more excited than I was. But New Zealand had Richard Hadlee, who was a great bowler, and it was only my third Test match so it was a real breakthrough for me.”

Subsequently Atherton went on to register four more Test centuries at Trent Bridge, following his 151 with 101 v New Zealand in 1994, 113 v West indies in 1995, 160 v India in 1996 and 136 v Zimbabwe in 2000.

Last year proved less productive as the stand-in skipper (Nasser Hussain was sidelined with a broken finger) managed 0 and 51 on top of conceding the Ashes. In mitigation he was unceremoniously sawn off in both innings.

It may have tarnished his final memory of the ground but it didn't dent his overall record too badly. Other grounds did for him on that score, most notably Lord's and Headingley (where he averaged 31.56 and 29.39 respectively) although his own chosen graveyard was Hobart, in Australia.

“Until my very last innings I never got a run in Tasmania for some reason. I mean literally wouldn’t have got more than five and then I got 200 in my last innings. There are just some grounds where you don’t feel comfortable and Hobart was one of those, as was Lord's.

“I never got a Test hundred at Lord’s – he was memorably run out for 99 aganist Australia in 1993 – and although I got a few fifties and a one-day hundred I never really felt it was my ground,” he admitted.

Despite his own impressive record at the ground England only won once in five attempts at Trent Bridge under Atherton's captaincy and he remains wary of the automatic inclination to bat first after winning the toss.

“I didn't always bat first but by and large it was a batting pitch. I came back to captain against Australia last year when Nasser was injured and that was a very difficult decision because it wasn’t the flattest of pitches at Trent Bridge. It was cracked and a bit greasy, cloudy and I decided to bat in the end, but I don’t know whether it was the right decision or not?

England made 185 on that occasion and ended up losing by seven wickets and waving goodbye to the Ashes at the same time. Not entirely successful in the grand scheme of things but, according to Athers, not the unmitigated disaster some like to recall either.

“In fact it was the one game in the series where we were competitive really. Alex Tudor got 5-44 and we had them 102-7 at one point in their first innings. I know we won at Headingley but we only won because there was a day of rain there, so it was the only time in the field we were really competitive and it was probably a bit more of a bowler’s pitch last year.”

The torrential downpours of the past week should ensure more of a balance between bat and ball than at Lord's so far this season but one player at least – debutant Robert Key – will be hoping Trent Bridge reverts to its usual friendly nature. Al in all not a bad place to get your international career underway, although former Somerset opener Mark Lathwell might not necessarily agree.

Michael Atherton's domestic Test record
Venue	Matches	Runs	Av'ge	100s	HS
Trent Bridge	11	1,083	60.17	5	160
Edgbaston	9	684	41.50	1	103
Old Trafford	10	729	40.50	2	131
Oval	12	859	35.79	1	108
Lord's	15	852	31.56	0	99
Headingley	10	529	29.39	0	99

5 Aug, 2002