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Atherton forced to prove fitness on county tour

Former England captain Mike Atherton will have to prove his fitness for the cricket world cup during a tour of South Africa by his county, Lancashire, from March 14.

The England opener is in the 15-man England squad for the world cup, starting May 14 in England, but has been ordered to undergo the tour to prove his recovery from a persistent back injury.

Atherton's England and Lancashire teammate Ian Austin, who is recovering from knee surgery, has also been instructed by the England Cricket Board to undertake the tour.

If both players prove their fitness on Lancashire's pre-season tour, they will join the rest of the England squad for the Sharjah trophy in April.

Neil Fairbrother and Andy Flintoff, Lancashire's two other England world cup squad members, have been rested from the tour, which includes four warm-up matches and a limited-overs series against Western Province and the Netherlands.

AP