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       <title>SkySports | Michael Atherton</title>
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           <title><![CDATA['Touching tribute to Clarke']]></title>
           <description><![CDATA[Michael Atherton says it was a touching tribute from England to give out-going Australia captain Michael Clarke a guard of honour as he walked out to the crease on day one of the final Ashes Test at The Oval.]]></description>
           <link>https://www.skysports.com/cricket/news/16380/9958398/ashes-2015-michael-clarke-guard-of-honour-was-a-touching-tribute-says-michael-atherton</link>
           <pubDate>Thu, 20 Aug 2015 19:37:00 BST</pubDate>
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           <title><![CDATA[Giles in pole position]]></title>
           <description><![CDATA[England must not rush to appoint a successor to former head coach Andy Flower and risk a repeat of the Peter Moores debacle, says Mike Atherton.]]></description>
           <link>https://www.skysports.com/cricket/news/16380/9143474/andy-flowers-successor-must-not-be-appointed-with-undue-haste</link>
           <pubDate>Fri, 31 Jan 2014 13:51:00 GMT</pubDate>
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           <title><![CDATA[Athers: More dark times ahead]]></title>
           <description><![CDATA[Michael Atherton has warned England fans there could be more dark times ahead and has doubts about Alstair Cook's future as captain following the humiliating 5-0 Ashes whitewash.]]></description>
           <link>https://www.skysports.com/cricket/news/16380/9105063/michael-atherton-warns-of-more-dark-times-for-england-following-ashes-whitewash</link>
           <pubDate>Tue, 07 Jan 2014 07:39:00 GMT</pubDate>
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           <title><![CDATA[Pietersen 'diligent']]></title>
           <description><![CDATA[Kevin Pietersen played an innings 'full of character' as England dug in on day one of the fourth Ashes Test, says Mike Atherton.]]></description>
           <link>https://www.skysports.com/cricket/news/16380/9088171/ashes-2013-14-kevin-pietersen-knuckled-down-and-showed-great-diligence</link>
           <pubDate>Thu, 26 Dec 2013 08:26:00 GMT</pubDate>
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           <title><![CDATA[Root call 'was right']]></title>
           <description><![CDATA[Joe Root's controversial dismissal had to stand because there was no firm evidence that it should be overturned, says Michael Atherton.]]></description>
           <link>https://www.skysports.com/cricket/news/16380/9072602/ashes-2013-14-joe-roots-controversial-dismissal-had-to-stand-under-current-drs-protocol</link>
           <pubDate>Sat, 14 Dec 2013 11:34:00 GMT</pubDate>
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           <title><![CDATA[Cook form 'a concern']]></title>
           <description><![CDATA[Alastair Cook's below-par start to the Ashes series is becoming a worry, says Mike Atherton.]]></description>
           <link>https://www.skysports.com/cricket/news/16380/9063637/ashes-2013-14-alastair-cooks-form-is-a-worry-after-early-series-mistakes</link>
           <pubDate>Sun, 08 Dec 2013 11:50:00 GMT</pubDate>
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           <title><![CDATA[Prior 'must improve']]></title>
           <description><![CDATA[Matt Prior must shake himself out of his miserable run of form before the Ashes are gone, says Mike Atherton.]]></description>
           <link>https://www.skysports.com/cricket/news/16380/9061480/ashes-2013-14-england-cant-afford-for-matt-priors-slump-to-continue</link>
           <pubDate>Sat, 07 Dec 2013 10:39:00 GMT</pubDate>
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           <title><![CDATA[Will Mitch pitch in?]]></title>
           <description><![CDATA[Mitchell Johnson and the drop-in strip are the only real concerns for England at the MCG, says Mike Atherton.]]></description>
           <link>https://www.skysports.com/cricket/news/16380/6609065/will-mitch-pitch-in</link>
           <pubDate>Thu, 23 Dec 2010 11:32:00 GMT</pubDate>
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           <title><![CDATA[It's time to perform]]></title>
           <description><![CDATA[Perth offers Australia their best chance of victory, says Mike Atherton, but are they up to the challenge?]]></description>
           <link>https://www.skysports.com/cricket/news/16380/6579247/its-time-to-perform</link>
           <pubDate>Wed, 15 Dec 2010 13:32:00 GMT</pubDate>
           <category>Article/Blog</category>
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           <title><![CDATA['Stokes shows England batting template and that he is still up for the fight']]></title>
           <description><![CDATA[After England's two-day pummelling in Perth was followed by a four-day drubbing in Brisbane - where they have still not won a Test since 1986 - Michael Atherton looks at where they went wrong and what positives they can take ahead of the third Ashes encounter in Adelaide from December 17&#8230;]]></description>
           <link>https://www.skysports.com/cricket/news/16380/13480531/the-ashes-ben-stokes-showed-england-batting-template-and-that-he-is-still-up-for-the-fight-says-michael-atherton</link>
           <pubDate>Mon, 08 Dec 2025 06:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
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           <title><![CDATA[Up and running]]></title>
           <description><![CDATA[England must produce a big first-innings in Adelaide to have a chance of going 1-0 up, says Mike Atherton.]]></description>
           <link>https://www.skysports.com/cricket/news/16380/6548137/up-and-running</link>
           <pubDate>Thu, 02 Dec 2010 10:39:00 GMT</pubDate>
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           <title><![CDATA[Deepening the doubts]]></title>
           <description><![CDATA[England must hit Australia hard in the first Ashes Test while they are still vulnerable, says Mike Atherton.]]></description>
           <link>https://www.skysports.com/cricket/news/16380/6524574/deepening-the-doubts</link>
           <pubDate>Wed, 24 Nov 2010 10:47:00 GMT</pubDate>
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           <title><![CDATA[The end of the show]]></title>
           <description><![CDATA[Andrew Flintoff was a scene-stealer on the pitch, says Mike Atherton, but he'll be relieved to retire.]]></description>
           <link>https://www.skysports.com/cricket/news/16380/6379825/the-end-of-the-show</link>
           <pubDate>Thu, 16 Sep 2010 14:57:00 BST</pubDate>
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           <title><![CDATA[All or nothing]]></title>
           <description><![CDATA[Win this week's fourth Test and the Ashes are England's. But if they lose, says Michael Atherton, that's it.]]></description>
           <link>https://www.skysports.com/cricket/news/16380/5476766/all-or-nothing</link>
           <pubDate>Thu, 06 Aug 2009 16:45:00 BST</pubDate>
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           <title><![CDATA[It's time to strike]]></title>
           <description><![CDATA[England must press home their advantage at Edgbaston says Mike Atherton - if the rain allows.]]></description>
           <link>https://www.skysports.com/cricket/news/16380/5460145/its-time-to-strike</link>
           <pubDate>Wed, 29 Jul 2009 15:42:00 BST</pubDate>
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           <title><![CDATA[A gamble all round?]]></title>
           <description><![CDATA[Michael Atherton wonders how Andrew Flintoff's decision to quit Test cricket after the Ashes will play out.]]></description>
           <link>https://www.skysports.com/cricket/news/16380/5435369/a-gamble-all-round</link>
           <pubDate>Wed, 15 Jul 2009 17:46:00 BST</pubDate>
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