JOSH IS SON OF ATHER-TON!
JOSH DE CAIRES, son of former England captain Michael Atherton, completed a first hundred off a county attack yesterday when he struck 118 against Yorkshire. A home bowling unit including prolific seamers Ben Coad and Steven Patterson, plus England’s David Willey, could not dismiss the 18-year-old Leeds-Bradford University batsman, who retired out on the final morning of a three-day draw. Although not a first-class match, the innings was one to savour, not least for his Lancastrian father. Lancashire second XI player Taylor Cornall also struck a ton as the students posted 382 in response to Yorkshire’s 485 for five declared. De Caires, who goes by his mother’s name to limit the attention, signed a contract with Middlesex last summer.