Mike Atherton
@athersmike.bsky.social
Former cricketer, scribbler, waffler…..
Reposted by Mike Atherton
I'm not sure if people share stories here (or read the ones that are shared) but fwiw, I've got a new story out in @newyorker.com today that means a great deal to me. It's about a writer I love, and an amazing cache of long-lost photographs from WW1: www.newyorker.com/news/letter-...
The First World War, in Sharp Focus
An English chronicler of the trenches, and his wartime romance, captured in long-lost photographs.
www.newyorker.com
July 13, 2025 at 10:31 AM
I'm not sure if people share stories here (or read the ones that are shared) but fwiw, I've got a new story out in @newyorker.com today that means a great deal to me. It's about a writer I love, and an amazing cache of long-lost photographs from WW1: www.newyorker.com/news/letter-...
One of the best, most charismatic and influential Test cricketers I’ve had the pleasure of watching
www.thetimes.com/article/8edc...
www.thetimes.com/article/8edc...
Virat Kohli retires from Test cricket having changed the way India played
Former captain, 36, says he will miss the “the quiet grind, the long days, the small moments” after following Rohit Sharma in stepping back from red-ball format
www.thetimes.com
May 12, 2025 at 12:57 PM
One of the best, most charismatic and influential Test cricketers I’ve had the pleasure of watching
www.thetimes.com/article/8edc...
www.thetimes.com/article/8edc...
“I have found comfort in the dressing room again.” An interview with Andrew Flintoff about his return to the game as a coach and the warm embrace he has received. So good to see him back
www.thetimes.com/article/4ccf...
www.thetimes.com/article/4ccf...
Freddie Flintoff: I have found comfort in the dressing room again
Andrew Flintoff on Top Gear crash, Brendon McCullum comforting him after infamous pedalo incident and how Rob Key encouraged him to return to cricket
www.thetimes.com
April 22, 2025 at 5:44 PM
“I have found comfort in the dressing room again.” An interview with Andrew Flintoff about his return to the game as a coach and the warm embrace he has received. So good to see him back
www.thetimes.com/article/4ccf...
www.thetimes.com/article/4ccf...
Farewell to Cec Wright who played until 85 — and era of giants at tiny clubs
www.thetimes.com/article/74ed...
www.thetimes.com/article/74ed...
Farewell to Jamaican who played until 85 — and era of giants at tiny clubs
Cec Wright, who has died aged 92, spent most of his life playing league cricket in Lancashire and evokes memories of other West Indian stars who played for small-town sides
www.thetimes.com
April 2, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Farewell to Cec Wright who played until 85 — and era of giants at tiny clubs
www.thetimes.com/article/74ed...
www.thetimes.com/article/74ed...
Unsung hero Peter Siddle was the workhorse every team needs and loves
www.thetimes.com/article/8771...
www.thetimes.com/article/8771...
Unsung hero Peter Siddle was the workhorse every team needs and loves
The retiring Australian that the unquantifiable quality of going the extra mile for your team-mates is a vital building block to success
www.thetimes.com
March 26, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Unsung hero Peter Siddle was the workhorse every team needs and loves
www.thetimes.com/article/8771...
www.thetimes.com/article/8771...
Cricket and Covid- 5 years on
www.thetimes.com/article/f790...
www.thetimes.com/article/f790...
Bazball was antidote to constraints of Covid — but has its time passed?
After 18 months of stifling cricket it was natural that England embraced Brendon McCullum’s liberation, but the pendulum may now swing towards a more balanced approach
www.thetimes.com
March 19, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Cricket and Covid- 5 years on
www.thetimes.com/article/f790...
www.thetimes.com/article/f790...
Martin Samuel’s interview with Jim Ratcliffe this weekend is very good
www.thetimes.com/article/5b09...
www.thetimes.com/article/5b09...
Jim Ratcliffe: If I got abused as much as Glazers, I’d have to walk away
Manchester United co-owner Jim Ratcliffe tells Martin Samuel what he really thinks of the Glazer family — and where it has all gone wrong at Old Trafford
www.thetimes.com
March 15, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Martin Samuel’s interview with Jim Ratcliffe this weekend is very good
www.thetimes.com/article/5b09...
www.thetimes.com/article/5b09...
@thetimes.com is free to read this weekend, archived pieces too. Here’s one from last summer and a wonderful trip to the village of West Indies fast bowler Shamar Joseph
www.thetimes.com/article/ec81...
www.thetimes.com/article/ec81...
My boat trip to remote Guyanese village that shaped Test star Shamar Joseph
Mike Atherton embarks on a voyage of discovery to home of the fast bowling sensation who inflicted damage on Australia and now senses a place on Lord’s honours board
www.thetimes.com
March 15, 2025 at 3:35 PM
@thetimes.com is free to read this weekend, archived pieces too. Here’s one from last summer and a wonderful trip to the village of West Indies fast bowler Shamar Joseph
www.thetimes.com/article/ec81...
www.thetimes.com/article/ec81...
Jos Buttler right to step down — but he shouldn’t shoulder all the blame. Reflections on the end of the road
www.thetimes.com/article/ad1d...
www.thetimes.com/article/ad1d...
Jos Buttler right to step down — but he shouldn’t shoulder all the blame
Results meant England captain had to go but he is not wholly accountable for failings in Champions Trophy amid recent backdrop of 50-over decline in English game
www.thetimes.com
February 28, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Jos Buttler right to step down — but he shouldn’t shoulder all the blame. Reflections on the end of the road
www.thetimes.com/article/ad1d...
www.thetimes.com/article/ad1d...
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/s... Nikesh Arora joins the pod to discuss his consortium’s investment into the Lord’s franchise
Buying A Hundred Franchise: Nikesh Arora from the consortium that's invested in London Spirit, on his love of cricket and the sport's future
Podcast Episode · Sky Sports Cricket Podcast · 07/02/2025 · 44m
podcasts.apple.com
February 7, 2025 at 6:26 PM
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/s... Nikesh Arora joins the pod to discuss his consortium’s investment into the Lord’s franchise
Rocky Flintoff’s hundred a perfect riposte to those who cried nepotism
www.thetimes.com/article/9a5c...
www.thetimes.com/article/9a5c...
Rocky Flintoff’s hundred a perfect riposte to those who cried nepotism
England Lions inclusion of Andrew’s son, 16, was true to form for a selection policy that prioritises potential — which he has in abundance
www.thetimes.com
January 30, 2025 at 7:47 AM
Rocky Flintoff’s hundred a perfect riposte to those who cried nepotism
www.thetimes.com/article/9a5c...
www.thetimes.com/article/9a5c...
Two divisions is a debate worth having. But two-tier Test cricket? No thanks
www.thetimes.com/article/0d34...
www.thetimes.com/article/0d34...
Two divisions is a debate worth having. But two-tier Test cricket? No thanks
Introducing a closed shop just so England, India and Australia can carve up calendar even more would finish off international game once and for all
www.thetimes.com
January 7, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Two divisions is a debate worth having. But two-tier Test cricket? No thanks
www.thetimes.com/article/0d34...
www.thetimes.com/article/0d34...
England will take encouragement from riveting Australia-India series
www.thetimes.com/article/2086...
www.thetimes.com/article/2086...
England will take encouragement from riveting Australia-India series
A five-Test series is a true test of character and this one had it all… but Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum will have noticed chinks in the armour of both teams
www.thetimes.com
January 6, 2025 at 6:47 AM
England will take encouragement from riveting Australia-India series
www.thetimes.com/article/2086...
www.thetimes.com/article/2086...
Why self-taught genius Jasprit Bumrah is my Test cricketer of the year
www.thetimes.com/article/0a63...
www.thetimes.com/article/0a63...
Why self-taught genius Jasprit Bumrah is my Test cricketer of the year
Australia may have turned on the style again to win the fourth Test in Melbourne but after another incredible display with the ball, the India fast bowler is my leading performer in 2024
www.thetimes.com
December 30, 2024 at 9:42 AM
Why self-taught genius Jasprit Bumrah is my Test cricketer of the year
www.thetimes.com/article/0a63...
www.thetimes.com/article/0a63...
Ben Stokes injured as Kane Williamson century puts England to the grinder. Some feisty debate under the line on this piece
www.thetimes.com/article/d298...
www.thetimes.com/article/d298...
Ben Stokes injured as Kane Williamson century puts England to the grinder
England, with eight second-innings wickets in hand, require 640 more runs to win against New Zealand after Ben Stokes injures same hamstring he tore in summer
www.thetimes.com
December 16, 2024 at 10:54 AM
Ben Stokes injured as Kane Williamson century puts England to the grinder. Some feisty debate under the line on this piece
www.thetimes.com/article/d298...
www.thetimes.com/article/d298...
Will O’Rourke outstanding today- all that and a bit of ‘hooptedoodle’
www.thetimes.com/article/ecfc...
www.thetimes.com/article/ecfc...
England on back foot against New Zealand after batting collapse
Touring side disintegrate to 143 all out in just 35.4 overs after Will O’Rourke’s devastating spell as the hosts ease to lead of 340 runs in Hamilton
www.thetimes.com
December 15, 2024 at 8:08 AM
Will O’Rourke outstanding today- all that and a bit of ‘hooptedoodle’
www.thetimes.com/article/ecfc...
www.thetimes.com/article/ecfc...
England right to resist documentary cameras and retain Bazball mystery.
www.thetimes.com/article/89c1...
www.thetimes.com/article/89c1...
England right to resist documentary cameras and retain Bazball mystery
TV sports documentaries may be in vogue but the secrets behind England Test side’s revitalisation under Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum should remain hidden
www.thetimes.com
December 11, 2024 at 6:18 PM
England right to resist documentary cameras and retain Bazball mystery.
www.thetimes.com/article/89c1...
www.thetimes.com/article/89c1...
Lovely day in Wellington, watching Jacob Bethell
www.thetimes.com/article/0701...
www.thetimes.com/article/0701...
Sublime Jacob Bethell and Gus Atkinson hat-trick leave hosts reeling
England end day two on 378-5 with lead of 533 in Wellington, as 21-year-old Bethell scores excellent 96 after visiting bowlers had skittled New Zealand for just 125
www.thetimes.com
December 7, 2024 at 7:37 AM
Lovely day in Wellington, watching Jacob Bethell
www.thetimes.com/article/0701...
www.thetimes.com/article/0701...
Kiwi great who unearthed Jasprit Bumrah – and lost race to Rob Key. Long interview with John Wright, who has a fund of anecdotes after such a varied career in the game.
www.thetimes.com/article/ea6f...
www.thetimes.com/article/ea6f...
Kiwi great who unearthed Jasprit Bumrah – and lost race to Rob Key
From farmer’s boy in New Zealand to coaching ‘rockstars’ in transformational years of Indian cricket, John Wright opens up to Mike Atherton on a remarkable career
www.thetimes.com
December 5, 2024 at 4:56 PM
Kiwi great who unearthed Jasprit Bumrah – and lost race to Rob Key. Long interview with John Wright, who has a fund of anecdotes after such a varied career in the game.
www.thetimes.com/article/ea6f...
www.thetimes.com/article/ea6f...
Great to have Smithy on the pod, chatting the recent Test and the art of commentary
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbU6...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbU6...
Nasser, Athers & Ian Smith on England's dominant win over New Zealand and "The barest of margins" 🎙️
YouTube video by Sky Sports Cricket
www.youtube.com
December 3, 2024 at 5:40 PM
Great to have Smithy on the pod, chatting the recent Test and the art of commentary
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbU6...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbU6...
Ben Stokes’s homecoming marks start of year that will define Bazball. Scene setter in Christchurch.
www.thetimes.com/article/4401...
www.thetimes.com/article/4401...
Ben Stokes’s homecoming marks start of year that will define Bazball
England travel to New Zealand having lost as many Tests as they have won this year – and Ben Stokes must reassert himself after disappointing Pakistan tour
www.thetimes.com
November 27, 2024 at 8:02 AM
Ben Stokes’s homecoming marks start of year that will define Bazball. Scene setter in Christchurch.
www.thetimes.com/article/4401...
www.thetimes.com/article/4401...
Ben Stokes was extremely revealing here, across many topics, two days before the start of the series
www.thetimes.com/article/36de...
www.thetimes.com/article/36de...
Ben Stokes: We haven’t picked Jacob Bethell at No3 to wind people up
Ben Stokes defends choice to select Jacob Bethell at No3 for England against New Zealand and admits that fitness struggles hampered his leadership in Pakistan
www.thetimes.com
November 26, 2024 at 8:20 PM
Ben Stokes was extremely revealing here, across many topics, two days before the start of the series
www.thetimes.com/article/36de...
www.thetimes.com/article/36de...