County Championship

FORGET all the talk of England selection - Mike Atherton is just glad to be doing his bit for Lancashire.

Athers almost certainly secured his Test spot at Canterbury yesterday by grafting to 152, his highest score since the Trent Bridge Test against India in 1996 - and at seven hours, 46 minutes, one of his longest innings for Lancashire.

But he was more concerned with Lancashire's Championship prospects than his own chances of Test selection.

Who plays for England is the sole concern of the selectors," said a tired but happy Athers. "I just need to score lots of runs for Lancashire, that's my priority. It's good to be in the runs early in the season."

Atherton had not scored a century since the Championship match against Surrey late last season, 21 first class innings ago.

He started this season with a string of cheap dismissals in the Benson and Hedges Cup, although he did not have much luck, but warmed up for his Canterbury marathon with 98 in the Axa League victory over Derbyshire on Sunday.

After resigning the England captaincy, which has limited his contribution to Lancashire over the last few years, he is keen to redress the balance by scoring more Championship runs this time.

This innings has given Lancashire a superb platform to press for their first Championship victory of the season.

With Andy Flintoff hitting a quick 42 to strengthen his case for Texaco Trophy selection, Mike Watkinson making a welcome return to form with 87, and Warren Hegg continuing his excellent start to the season with 51 not out, Lancashire resumed today on 419-8 - although they scored so slowly, they only claimed three batting bonus points.

Meanwhile at Old Trafford, Mark Harvey hit an unbeaten century, Chris Schofield added a quick 52 and Gary Yates took 1-13 in his 10 overs as Lancashire's second team beat Derbyshire by six runs in the Aon Risk Trophy.

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