Reports had circulated stating that Atherton had rejected a new contract with Lancashire, leading to speculation that he was about to retire from the game.

"I have not rejected any offer of a new contact from Lancashire," Atherton said in a statement.

"I am happy to see out the remaining year of my contract.

"The club are totally supportive of this and all options will be considered at the conclusion of my current deal in 2001."

Talks on hold

Lancashire chief executive Jim Cumbes earlier played down the reports.

Old Trafford chairman Jack Simmons had been quoted as saying that the 32-year-old had put discussions on hold.

But Cumbes told BBC Radio Lancashire that such talk was premature.

"I think Mike's made it clear before now that he's not looking for an extension to his contract because it still has a year to run," he said.

"Our chairman, Jack Simmons, may have spoken to him informally, but certainly there was no formal offer of a contract.

Retirement hint

"We fully expect him to carry on playing here at Old Trafford, and hopefully for England, but Mike has to make that decision himself, and I'm sure he'll take that purely on the grounds of health, and how his back is."

He underlined that contract talks with Atherton were not due to take place for another eight months.

But Lancashire chairman Simmons said: "He has put matters on hold. There is talk of retiring, but I can't see him packing up."

The former England captain, who recently played in his 100th Test match, hinted in an interview in The Spectator magazine earlier this year that he may retire from international cricket at the end of next summer's Ashes series.

Atherton, 32, has a degenerative back complaint which often requires a series of injections before the start of play, a condition which is known to have sapped his enthusiasm for the game.