MIKE Atherton was today reappointed as England captain for the first half of the summer.

It was expected that the new England selection committee, chaired by David Graveney, would back the 29-year-old Lancashire star for the Texaco Trophy series against the Aussies and then the first three of the six match Ashes series.

Atherton's reign, which started against Australia in 1993, looked in jeopardy on the first stage of the winter tour in Zimbabwe when he lost batting form and England suffered a string of embarrassments.

But he recaptured his touch to lead England to a series triumph in New Zealand and his reappointment would maintain a Lancashire triumvirate, with coach David Lloyd and management committee chairman Bob Bennett, at the head of Test cricket.

Bennett today predicted a rosy future for English cricket saying: "We can enjoy a new era with significant changes on and off the field.

"As far as the England team is concerted, I am optimistic that we will do well this summer. In the last two Tests in New Zealand they showed that, rather than just looking to complete five days of cricket, they were looking for victories."

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