MIKE ATHERTON has been given a vote of confidence by the new England selection committee and invited to lead England in matches against Australia this summer. It means he is set to overtake Peter May as England's longest serving Test captain.

David Graveney, the chairman of a panel that also includes the former England captains Graham Gooch and Mike Gatting, officially announced Atherton's reappointment yesterday.

Atherton's reappointment covers the six Test Ashes series as well as the three Texaco one day internationals, and confirms him in a job he has held since Gooch stood down after four matches of the last Ashes series.