Michael Atherton gets pranked live on air on Day 4 of England vs West Indies Test

Michael Atherton, the former England captain, fell prey to a trick while commentating during England’s opening Test against the West Indies at the Rose Bowl in Southampton. On Saturday, July 11, club cricket was played for the first time across the country ever since the COVID-19 pandemic started. While on air, Atherton asked people to get in touch with the cricket club.

But during the fourth day’s play of the ongoing Test, he was tricked into reading a rude made-up name. During his commentary for Sky Sports, his attention went to one of the messages submitted by a user on Twitter. It said that one of the bowlers has turned up with stupendous figures. The tweet read, “Unbelievable scenes for Cockermouth Cricket Club, with Hugh Jardon bowling 6 for 9!”

Michael Atherton left embarrassed

For Atherton, he read out the tweet, loud and clear. But later, on realising the trap, he left the commentary box. Former England stars Rob Key and Ian Ward, who both were in the commentary box along with Atherton, couldn’t hold back their laughter.

After the occurring, the netizens weren’t going to let go Atherton. Subsequently, they trolled him. “Michael Atherton on the Sky cricket commentary being duped into saying ‘6 for 9 by Hugh Jardon at Cockermouth’ is top class,” one user wrote.

“An all-time classic on Sky Cricket. Not the game, but Michael Atherton falling for the world’s oldest joke,” another tweet read. “Thanks to whoever got Michael Atherton to read that out on the telly. Made my afternoon,” another user mentioned.

As far as the ongoing Test is concerned, the match is well-balanced, though West Indies have a slight upper hand. At the close of the fourth day’s play, the hosts have managed a lead of 170 runs with a couple of wickets left in their second innings. Jofra Archer and Mark Wood are in the middle.

Barring Kemar Roach, all the regular Caribbean bowlers picked up wickets. Shannon Gabriel has been the most successful with the wickets of Dominic Sibley, Ollie Pope and Dominic Bess. Going into the fifth day, Jason Holder and Co will be looking to remove the English tail at the earliest.