MIKE Atherton is ready to play a big part in Lancashire's Championship bid.

The former England captain's county appearances have been limited in recent years by injury and Test commitments.

And before the current match against Somerset in Taunton, he had managed only 47 runs from five Championship innings this season.

But his omission from England's one-day squad has left him free to play in Lancashire's next three matches -- and on the evidence so far in Somerset, that is a massive boost.

Athers was at his masterful best as he stroked 113, the first time he has even passed 50 in the Championship for Lancashire since that magnificent unbeaten 268 against Glamorgan at Blackpool last year.

Just as he had in that Blackpool innings, Atherton played with more freedom than he usually does for England, hooking young Somerset paceman Steffan Jones for two sixes before lunch and reaching three figures from 140 balls with 14 fours.

It was the 51st first class century of his career, but only his 24th in the championship for Lancashire -- his fifth in the last five years.

But Atherton was let down by his Lancashire team-mates as they slumped to 239 all out with the last six wickets tumbling for 23.

Joe Scuderi did his bit with a Championship-best 46 in a fifth wicket stand of 112 with Atherton which took Lancashire to 216-4.

But when Scuderi smacked a wide half volley from Keith Parsons straight to backward point soon after tea, it set off a spectacular Lancashire collapse which left them with only one batting point.

Atherton was beaten by a good in-swinger from Parsons and Hegg seemed disappointed when he was also given out lbw, but Glen Chapple went the same way as Scuderi and Chris Schofield also played a loose shot.

Parsons, who had only managed one first class wicket all season, ended with career best figures of 5-13 to leave Lancashire's bowlers with an uphill struggle to get back into the game today. LANCASHIRE

M Atherton lbw Parsons ... 113

J Crawley b Jones ... 6

N Fairbrother lbw Rose ... 2

S Ganguly c and b Trego ... 21

G Lloyd b Trego ... 17

J Scuderi c Lathwell b Parsons ... 46

W Hegg lbw Parsons ... 13

C Schofield c Bowler b Jones ... 2

G Chapple c Lathwell b Parsons ... 2

G Keedy c and b Parsons ... 0

M Smethurst not out ... 1

Extras ... 16

Total (all out) ... 239

Bowling: Jones 19-3-77-2; Rose 14-3-47-1; Trego 11-3-39-2; Burns 8-2-36-0; Blackwell 6-1-21-0; Parsons 7.5-2-13-5

SOMERSET

J Cox not out ... 25

M Lathwell nto out ... 19

Extras ... 4

Total (0 wkts) ... 48

Bowling: Chapple 7-1-21-0; methurst 5-0-20-0; Scuderi 3-0-7-0; Keedy 2-2-0-0