I have to say I don't remember much to warm the ****les under Atherton's reign.
OK... in his 2nd Test in charge we beat Australia for the first time in 7 years, and beat a coherant Australia for the first time in 10.
In his first series in charge, we came within a dropped catch (in all likelihood) of drawing a series in West Indies for the first time in 20 years.
In his first full summer in charge we beat New Zealand and levelled a series against South Africa with one of the most sensational performances ever by an England team (Devon Malcolm's 9-for and a run-chase of 200 in 30 overs
).
In his second winter on tour we were within some bad light of heading into the final game of an Ashes at 2-2, something that hasn't looked like happening before or since for quite a while.
In his second summer in charge we credibly drew 2-2 with a still fairly strong West Indies side.
In his third winter on tour we were perhaps within an insipid second-new-ball showing of beating South Africa in our first series in the country since readmission.
In his third home summer we beat India, though the performance against Pakistan was rather forgettable.
In his fourth winter we beat New Zealand comfortably and were within 1 run of beating Zimbabwe.
In his fifth home summer we took a Test off Australia with The Ashes at stake, something that's only happened twice more (both in the same series) in the last 21 years and but for a dropped catch and a bad Umpiring decision could conceivably have won the series.
In his final tour we were within a lost toss, some rain and an unfathomable batting collapse (for which he had no fault BTW) of beating West Indies for the first time in 29 years.
Not really quite so bad as some paint it, to me. Outstandingly distinguished? No. But a damn sight better than many before had managed.