THE END FOR 'THE COCKROACH'?

Reece Killworth, Sportinglife.com

It had to be Glenn McGrath.

If anyone was to spoil what looks like being Michael Atherton's last Test for England, it had to be him.

As Atherton strode out to start England's second innings, he turned to his fellow opener Marcus Trescothick and wished him the best of luck.

That has always been Atherton's way - to use his experience to guide his many partners through the troublesome opening overs of an innings.

But at The Oval, Athers lasted just 33 balls before he trudged his way back to the pavilion alone.

For McGrath had ended his innings, just as he had done on 18 previous occasions in Test matches.

'The Pigeon' had snared 'The Coackroach' again in what was always likely to be Atherton's last Test against the old enemy.

The 33-year-old has insisted time and time again he will make a decision on his international future at the end of the season.

But the reactions of Nasser Hussain, Alec Stewart, the Australian team, Trescothick and Atherton himself after his dismissal at The Oval hinted that this was it.

As Atherton made his way to the pavilion the crowd - probably the people with the least knowledge of the situation - rose to salute the former skipper.

They were not alone.

The Australians ignored the chance to gather in a huddle to celebrate the dismissal and clapped Atherton, the man they had nicknamed 'Cockroach', from the field along with his opening partner Trescothick.

As Atherton climbed the pavilion steps, Hussain and Stewart came on to the balcony to hail their team-mate.

He was greeted like a century-maker but he had made just nine runs.

The clearest indication that this could be the end of the road.

But what a road.

Atherton has 115 Tests under his belt and led England out 54 times.

His marathon 185no against South Africa in 1995 will go down in history as one of the greatest ever Test knocks while his battle with Allan Donald in 1998 was compelling viewing.

He will be sorely missed by England if this is the end, but we should not forget there is still a Test match to finish.

Any chance of England winning the match disappeared when they were forced to follow on.

But that gives Hussain and his men the chance to give Atherton a reasonable send-off.

What better tribute than for England to bat out the final day to secure a draw just as Atherton did in Johannesburg in 1995?

Athers was at his best with his back against the wall.

Now is the time for England to prove there will be life after 'The Cockroach'.

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