Neil Bramwell recalls his childhood brush with the boy who grew to be England captain

HE WAS knee-high to a grasshopper and as scrawny as a stick insect.

The angelic wispy blond locks enforced the impression that the kid meandering in to bat would not have the strength to hit the ball off the square.

Bowling to a 10-year-old Mike Atherton was about as terrifying a prospect as an episode of Blue Peter.

After all, I was a strapping 12-year-old with the pace of a Jeff Thomson, the aggression of a Dennis Lillee - and the arrogance of a Geoff Boycott.

The plan was simple: Dig it in short and let the tot eat leather.

The result was emphatic: Pivoting on the back foot, he lofted me one bounce over square leg for four in that now legendary style.

You precautious little so and so, I'll show you.

The next ball, shorter and quicker, was smacked harder and further.

A stamping of the feet, an icy glare and a spot of pre-teenage sledging followed without even a "ner ner ni ner ner" in response.

The third ball was again retrieved by the chortling and now perspiring spectator on the square leg boundary.

Atherton passed the Lancashire under 13 north versus south trial and this week lead his country to the series win in New Zealand with commanding majesty. I failed the trial and am writing about cricket!

It was evident to all those who didn't bowl three overs for 27 that scorching day at Bolton Grammar School that this kid was special.

County colleague Gary Yates, a former pro at Ribblesdale Wanderers, has followed Atherton's progression closer than most.

As a class-mate at Manchester Grammar School it soon became clear to Yates that Atherton was destined for the top.

"He was a dedicated scholar and always very organised, never late.

"He had all the qualities of a leader and led by example when captaining the cricket side," said Yates.

The popular spinner also viewed Atherton's meticulous attention to detail in his other sporting pursuits at first hand, playing soccer at school and sharing a golf handicap of nine.

"He hits the golf ball straight and a long way. His timing is excellent though he goes a little bit more towards fishing now because of his back problems," Gary added.

That timing was no more apparent than during the Christchurch final Test in his magnificent strokeplay during a first innings 94 not out and a series-winning 118 in the second. It was also a timely return to form and the front-line leadership that his typified his four-year reign as captain.

Those national commentators (Nigel Clarke of The Mirror springs immediately to mind) who knee-jerked into calling for his head after the Zimbabwe leg of the tour, when Atherton's own poor form was reflected in the team's results, must have been squirming in their ivory towers.

But those displays came as no surprise to the Lancashire players back in England preparing for the coming season.

Yates said: "In a way we have come to expect it as we know him so well.

"We knew it was a matter of time before he came good.

"Six or seven years ago his loss of form might have affected him but now he is a lot stronger.

"Mike would have been very upbeat about it and he would not have let that affect any of the other players. "He likes to lead from the front. He has strong views which I do not think are a problem for any captain.

"But he doesn't always get his own way which is no bad thing either.

"Mike's biggest quality is his strength of mind.

"He enjoys taking the back seat a bit more at county level but Mike Watkinson often uses him as a vice-captain.

"I wouldn't say other players put him on a pedestal but he is highly respected within the team."

The fact that Atherton's batting is an inspirational captaincy tool is now beyond doubt.

Niggling doubts remain, though, as to his ability to maintain inspiration throughout a series.

And Atherton may or may not be granted time to prove doubters wrong in the forthcoming Ashes series.

Whether or not he is the right man for the job, I just wish he had been born in Yorkshire!

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.