Michael Atherton recalls his game-saving 185* in South Africa

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Former skipper Mike Atherton produced one of the great innings by an England captain to save the Johannesburg Test against South Africa in 1995.
He chats exclusively to ECBtv about his memories of the 10-hour, 185 not out marathon 21 years on.

[@stevendavies417]

Great innings, and a great man. His analyses are always spot on.

[@Bernie8330]

I agree Atherton is a fine commentator. I remember listening to him on radio as England were captitulating in their 2nd innings in the first Ashes test in Brisbane (my home city) last November and he made the point that winning in Australia is a once in a generation experience that coincides with England being at a strong point or era coinciding with Australia being in a rebuilding phase.

[@stonersid]

i remember russels part in it 29off 235 balls....thats concentration at a new level.

[@Sappa9702]

AB de Villiers did something close to that against Australia in 2012. He got 33 off 220 balls.

[@Endothermia]

Yeah, holding out for that long is something special. Neil Wagner scored 7 off 103 this year - the only time I've seen a batsman with a strike rate lower than his score.

[@Bernie8330]

Naz I was about to say that until I opened up the replies and read yours - except south africa didn't quite save the game on that occasion 4 years ago. AB de Villiers was the complete test batsman in the sense that he could turn bowlers to jelly like Viv Richards to win games and also frustrate them like Allan Border to save them.

[@Bernie8330]

@Nahush Modi completely different test we are talking about.

[@vikranthbojja4843]

That too with that sunglasses 😎

[@freespirit906]

One of the greatest test innings by an English batsman, hence the birth of the nickname 'iron mike'

[@dmac5675]

One of the great innings of all time

[@dilipmacbookssaparamadu3522]

"Ather" wonderful cricket voice .. clean and crispy ..

[@shashank7230]

Exelent voice and commentary Atherton

[@samkershaw8474]

If you look at Athers' stats, they aren't remarkable but when put into context the bowlers he faced in his era as an opener, the likes of: Waqar Younis, Wasim Akram, Curtly Ambrose, Courtney Walsh, Allan Donald, Shaun Pollock, Glenn McGrath you see just what a great cricketer he was.

[@insparks782]

Not to mention he has ankylosing spondylitis meaning his back is gradually fusing itself solid, and causes him a great deal of pain.

[@samkershaw8474]

@@insparks782 I forgot about that. He's Iron Mike for a reason.

[@farhanhasan2926]

Absolutely agree. And batting against the new ball in England

[@acch20]

This is one of the most memorable test innings by an english batsman. Maybe now my favourite behind that of ben stokes and kevin pietersons in the final ashes test of 05.

[@PraveenKumar-vp4sn]

KP played his best innings in Mumbai on a rank turner& scored a fantastic 100. India lost the test series in 2012. India lost only 2 series in india in last 20 years. 2004 to Australia 2012 to England becoz of KP. Beating Indian team in Indian conditions is the toughest test for any team.

[@pranavchaware]

I'm still trying to recover from 29 runs from 235 balls by Jackass Russell @ 4:12 🤯

[@MrKesavaraj]

Fond memories - great knock Athers... and Robin Smith - the famous square cut. Particularly remember an ODI domestic final Robin Smith v Waqar Younis - hell for leather stuff... Donald and Pollock then v Morkel and Rabada today - gonna be tough tmr. Reckon the weather helped South Africa today, forcing the declaration; and perhaps the weather crucial tmr... time will tell. I guess Cook will have to wait till the Sri Lanka series for 10,000 Test Runs...

[@Hezklour]

Those days target of 250 above in the 4th innings was almost a confirmed victory, batting 5 sessions and survive was such a huge achievement that the genenration of today might not be able to understand it. I don't even know how to compare it with today's cricket to give an example. But I must say, if today a team plays 5 sessions, they would so easily achieve that target but then again these are completely different times.

[@ashashroff6351]

He is a True Lancatrian. A humble man with an open bat and no inhibitions. Brings back memories of Sir Leonard Hutton.

[@cquilty1]

+Ash Ashroff Aaaah yes...good ol' Lennie. Another "Lancatrian."

[@jamescoupland667]

Len Hutton was born and bread in Yorkshire!

[@nowazisjuhad4629]

This is that innings make him great wall of china of Test matches

[@SanG-tc3gb]

English team Atherton, Russell, Peterson was a good team in recent times..

[@mikebaker3920]

He batted for two days...the England team now often can't bat for 90 overs between them all...nuff said

[@mafoomatty7494]

Hero

[@SuperFerdie1965]

Does Atherton know he's Van der Dussen's dad?

[@elevensphere6854]

Sorry what?

[@eramesan2]

Not many get to play an innings that both defines them exemplifies them. MA did.

[@malaybanerjee8291]

492 balls wow

[@oliverheard4415]

Decent knock but Atherton averaged 37 in tests.

[@Prodigy_Fan]

Yep, not a great average but he came up against some of the best bowlers of all-time in the 90s. And Athers average stands up to most of his piers in the England teams of that era.

[@zohaibalam7339]

Just like babar azam did today