Atherton's quest continues

Atherton is about to see the raised finger of the umpire

By BBC Sport Online's Robin Scott-Elliot at Lord's

In more than a decade at the very highest level Michael Atherton has assembled a record to place him among the top echelon of English batsmen.

He has seen it all, done it all, and greeted it all with the same phlegmatic shrug and narrowed eyes, impostor or not.

But there is one glaring gap in the Atherton cv.

Not one of his 16 Test centuries have come at Lord's.

He has come close, in fact he could barely have got closer.

In 1993 he was left stranded, run out one short of three figures. Sent back by Mike Gatting he slipped and could only watch on all fours as Merv Hughes' powerful return sealed his fate.

Merv Hughes dented Atherton's best hope of a Lord's ton

Hughes became a grudging admirer of Atherton. At first he thought this quiet, slender Pom would be easy meat, but Atherton quickly proved his worth and still is.

But his name is still not up on the boards in the home changing room at HQ and time is running out.

The build-up to this Test featured a posse of current and former players stating that nothing comes bigger than England against Australia at Lord's.

The first day could have been sold out three times over, and that probably just to former players.

Greg Chappell, Geoff Lawson, Mark Taylor, Jeff Thomson, Ian Healy, Allan Border, Graham Gooch, David Gower, Ian Botham, Angus Fraser - the list goes on and on.

Even though there was never any chance of play starting on time, the crowd poured into the ground too.

The full signs were posted on all the members stands and the picnic rugs (waterproof versions) spread behind the Warner Stand.

One group of Australians were so determined to make the most of their day out they raided a pub and persuaded one of the barmaids to enter their employment for the day.

Mike Gatting's lunch plans were scuppered by the rain

She spent her time scurrying between the showers to keep her new employers suitably lubricated - they did not miss a ball or a drop and she was handsomely rewarded.

Not all the spectators would have gone home so happy, although what play they did witness was Test cricket at its intense best.

Atherton's first act back at the helm - the 53rd time he has led England - was to lose the toss to groans around the ground.

It was not the day to be batting and that was not due to any evils in the pitch.

Four times over the day Atherton and his partner of the time had to start again against one of the most fearsome attacks witnessed in this country.

The first session lasted 14 minutes, then it was lunch and despite the rain the picnics went ahead beneath a red and yellow canvas of MCC umbrellas.

The stop/start nature of the game confused many, Mike Gatting even missed lunch to attend a book signing session.

Through the showers and murky light, Atherton remained, and off the field the battle of the Australian lagers intensified.

Glenn McGrath has the upper hand again

It's a big series for Fosters, Castlemaine and VB. The latter are very much the underdog, big down under but not up here.

Unlike Glenn McGrath.

His name is up on the honour's board. Four years ago he destroyed England on a similarly damp day.

He threatened to do the same again, bowling with characteristic menace and aggression.

And he got Atherton again - for the 14th time in Test cricket.

The England captain had batted well and had not looked in any undue trouble.

He was never comfortable against McGrath, but he did twice drop to one knee and lace drives through the covers.

But then came the fatal misjudgement, back came the Aussies and that gap in the cv remains.