Cricket: Atherton is confident of pace attack: As the winter tour draws near, England's captain is in fine form

SHORTLY before his first full series as England captain, Tony Greig stated his intention to make the West Indies 'grovel'. Being a more thoughtful, not to mention more politically sensitive sort, Michael Atherton is not one to issue such threats. But he insists the fact that the West Indies have not lost a Test rubber for nigh on 14 years, nor surrendered one at home since 1973, should not be a cue for defeatism.

'I don't see any reason why we can't win, and I expect every player to go in with that approach. It's a nonsensical attitude to go in looking for a draw,' Atherton said at a Sports Writers' Association lunch yesterday, promising that no side of his would ever run short of positive leadership.

'Personally, I think they are a stronger team than when we drew with them here in 1991, when they had a lot of players in the twilight of their careers. Yet the fact that it's the biggest challenge represents the biggest opportunity for us. It may be the only opportunity in our careers to make history.

'It's going to be very difficult but people have to convince themselves in their own mind that they can do it. After all, players like Gus Fraser, Robin Smith and Jack Russell have all experienced winning there, and I've tasted victory against them here a couple of times.'

Atherton, who exuded a measured confidence and a dry wit at odds with his self-confessed unease in the spotlight, bases much of his conviction on the re-emergence of Devon Malcolm and Angus Fraser in the final Test against Australia.

He puts Australia's overwhelming superiority in the Ashes series down to superior performance, rather than talent but for once, he contended, England need not be embarrassed about pitting their pace resources against those at Richie Richardson's disposal, depleted as the latter will be by Ian Bishop's enforced absence.

'Devon is the fastest bowler on either side, given the way he bowled at The Oval. A couple of Aussies were visibly apprehensive. With him and Chris Lewis to provide outright pace and Gus and the others the accuracy, I hope we've got the right mixture.'

That two openers and six middle-order batsmen, none of whom has made a Test century in the Caribbean, may constitute the wrong mixture received short shrift. 'We went on the policy of picking the eight best batsmen and the selectors took the view that it wasn't worth taking an opener for the sake of it.'

What, then, of the wisdom in omitting David Gower and Allan Lamb? 'You can repeat the question ad nauseam if you like,' came the slightly testy retort. 'It would have been nice to have Goochie but in his absence we wanted to go forward.

'Ramprakash, Hussain and Thorpe may be young but they have six or seven years of county experience behind them. And they haven't endured being whacked by the West Indies.'

So, would he advise people to nip down to Corals and back his optimism? 'Depends on what odds you get.' At that, the pursed lips melted into a smirk. Here, clearly, is a young man with the requisite sense of perspective.