Atherton's century sounds Ashes warning

Mike Atherton hit a superb unbeaten century to put Lancashire in a strong position after the first day of their Championship match against Essex at Old Trafford.

Atherton batted all day to reach 125, and with Warren Hegg contributing 35 in an unbroken sixth-wicket stand of 74, Lancashire ended the day on 230 for five from 94 overs.

Yet they would have been in danger of squandering first use of a turning pitch were it not for Atherton.

John Crawley won the toss and chose to bat after morning drizzle had delayed the start by an hour, but none of the rest of Lancashire's top six could make it to 20.

In contrast Atherton cruised to a chanceless century from 222 balls with 15 fours.

It was the 54th first-class century of the 33-year-old's career, 29 of them for Lancashire, in his last Championship appearance before he links up with England for the Ashes.

Ricky Anderson, the leading first-class wicket taker in the country at the start of play with 34, had given Essex a good start by having Mark Chilton caught behind.

And when Crawley dragged on a slower ball from Ashley Cowan, Lancashire were 49 for two.

Andy Flintoff and Neil Fairbrother both played positively but Peter Such, who took 14 wickets on Essex's last visit to Old Trafford but still finished on the losing side, had them both snapped up by Stuart Law at slip.

Michael Davies, the former Northants left-arm spinner who was making his Essex debut, then trapped Joe Scuderi lbw to leave Lancashire on 156 for five.

But Hegg, who has been such a reliable performer for Lancashire for so many years, appeared again to steady the ship, and with the pitch already offering turn to Such and Davies, they will be looking for Muttiah Muralitharan to lead their bid for a third consecutive Championship win.

Such has already bowled 26 overs and taken two for 61.