MIKE ATHERTON says he would like to captain England in the Ashes series this summer, but realises he will not get the chance if England falter on their current tour of New Zealand.
And even if he does lead his country against Australia, Atherton says it would almost certainly be his last test series in charge.
"I can't see me doing it for much longer," he was quoted as telling the Times in an interview published yesterday. "If the second part of this winter's tour (in New Zealand) goes well, then I would like to do the job in the summer, against Australia. If it does not go well then I won't be doing it any longer. That much is obvious.
"If we won every test in New Zealand, and then beat Australia ... who can say," he said. "But it appears an obvious break point.
"Graham Gooch did it for four years, from 1989 to 1993. I've done the job since then. A four year period constitutes a round circle of events, and encapsulates most series and most challenges a captain can expect, and by the end of next summer I would have done that. If there is such a thing as a natural period of office then that is it."
Atherton has been under pressure to stand down following England's dismal performance in Zimbabwe on the first leg of their tour. They drew both tests there and lost the one day series 3-0.
"I have really enjoyed being captain on this trip. My form has been poor but that has not harmed my overall enjoyment," he said.
Asked if the pressures of captaincy were responsible for his failure to score runs - he has made just 203 in his last 14 innings - he said: "Absolutely not. It is quite misleading to suggest the captaincy has burdened my batting, because the last three years have been the best of my test career.
"It is a misconception that I am fed up with that burden. I'm not."
Although Atherton continued his wretched run of form, England produced a vastly improved performance on the opening day of their match against a New Zealand XI in Palmerston North.
Craig White took four for 15 and pace partners Dominic Cork, Andy Caddick and Chris Silverwood all claimed wickets as England dismissed a team containing eight Test players for 138.
Then, despite Atherton's early departure for seven, they reached 106 for three by the close as Nick Knight and Alec Stewart took a shine to the home attack.
. Alec Stewart was finally halted in his cracks at Palmerston North early this morning - by lightning, thunder and heavy rain. Stewart looked all set to complete a century before lunch on the second day of the match against New Zealand's Select XI as he blazed into the 70s. But then a storm that had been threatening for some time finally struck after an hour's play.
By then, Stewart, maintaining the sparkling form he showed throughout most of England's tour to Zimbabwe, had reached 75 and led the visitors to 153 for three, already 15 runs ahead.
