MIKE ATHERTON is back in the runs in the nick of time.
The England captain had a terrible start to the season with just 96 runs in his first eight innings for Lancashire.
But Athers battled back and today completed a half century in the second innings of the Championship game against Notts, his last first class chance before taking on Australia in the Texaco Trophy next week.
It will be a big relief to England selectors David Graveney, Mike Gatting and Graham Gooch, who meet to pick the squad this weekend.
"It's good to spend a bit of time at the crease," Athers admitted.
"The one-dayers are coming up and this knock and the game on Sunday are the only innings before the Texacos.
"I have not been flush with runs for the first bit of the season, but this was only my third first class knock and I have felt in pretty good form."
It was slow going for Atherton, who would surely have been given lbw for a duck if it wasn't for a no-ball from teenage Notts paceman Paul Franks. After more than three hours at the crease he was still two runs short of his half century, and managed just five boundaries in that time.
He must have been envious of John Crawley, who after his superb unbeaten half century in the first innings cruised effortlessly to another 50 in 98 balls with eight sweetly-timed boundaries.
But in their different ways the former Manchester Grammar School, and now England, team-mates dragged Lancashire back into the game with an unbroken partnership of 135, progressing cautiously to 137 today.
Lancs had conceded a first innings lead of 138 with a mixed bag of a bowling performance. Ian Austin was superb, claiming 4-44 from 22 overs, and Glen Chapple also earned 3-49.
But after taking three of the first four Notts wickets on Wednesday, Wasim Akram sprayed the ball all over the place and conceded 34 runs in wides and no-balls.
Paddy McKeown hammered Lancashire's second team to the brink of victory in their championship match against Glamorgan at Fleetwood. Lancashire needed just 150 for victory after dismissing the Welshmen for 153 in their second innings and McKeown steered them to 101-1 with a quickfire 71.
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