ENGLAND captain Mike Atherton raised £307,000 from his 1997 testimonial.

It smashed the Lancashire record of £209,000 set by former captain Mike Watkinson last year, although it stays well behind Dermot Reeve's £400,000 plus in the overall benefit charts.

Atherton could have made more, but insisted that the testimonial should not interfere with his cricket, said his committee chairman, businessman Bob Wilson.

Lancashire's beneficiary next year is new captain Wasim Akram with wicketkeeper Warren Hegg following in 1999.

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