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Mike Atherton

Mike Atherton

England·Batsman

Former England captain caught with dirt in his pocket during a Test match, leading to ball tampering allegations.

5 incidents documented

Controversies & Incidents

Moderate

Curtly Ambrose's Retirement — The Last of the Great West Indian Pace Era

West Indies vs England

2000-04-18

Curtly Ambrose played his final Test in Barbados in April 2000, retiring with 405 wickets at 20.99 — the end of an era that had seen West Indies produce the finest fast bowlers in cricket's history across 25 consecutive years.

#curtly-ambrose#retirement#west-indies
🥊Serious

Glenn McGrath Destroys England with 8/38 at Edgbaston 1997

England vs Australia

1997-06-05

Glenn McGrath's 8/38 at Edgbaston in 1997 — the finest bowling performance of the Ashes series — included the repeated dismissal of Michael Atherton through metronomic accuracy outside off stump that reduced England's best batsman to helplessness.

#mcgrath#atherton#edgbaston-1997
😂Mild

Phil Tufnell: Cricket's Most Reluctant Fielder

England vs Various

1997-01-01

Phil 'The Cat' Tufnell was so bad at fielding that his nickname was ironic — he earned it for his ability to sleep anywhere, not for his agility.

#phil-tufnell#fielding#comedy
🚨Moderate

Mike Atherton: Dirt in Pocket Ball Tampering

England vs South Africa

23 July 1994

England captain Mike Atherton was caught on camera applying dirt from his pocket to the ball during the Lord's Test against South Africa, leading to a fine and a crisis of confidence.

#mike atherton#ball tampering#dirt in pocket
🥊Serious

Wasim Akram's Relentless Battle Against Michael Atherton

England vs Pakistan

1992-08-06

Wasim Akram's decade-long pursuit of Michael Atherton's wicket through devastating reverse swing and inswing produced one of cricket's most compelling ongoing rivalries — England's most determined opener against the greatest left-arm fast bowler of all time.

#wasim-akram#atherton#swing