Drawing Hampshire away in the first semi was the nightmare scenario for Lancashire's England duo, and if the Test goes the distance they will have to travel half the length of the country for a 10-30 start the following day. But Lancashire cricket secretary Dave Edmundson moved quickly yesterday to ease the pressure on Atherton and Flintoff.
``It all depends on when the Test finishes,'' he explained. ``The last flight from Leeds-Bradford to Southampton is at quarter to six.
``If the Test goes right to the death, then I will pick them up and drive them to Southampton.
``There is no way we would want them to drive all that way themselves after being involved in all the pressures of a decisive Test Match. It would hardly be the best preparation for a really big game for the club.''
It is yet another example of English cricket's crazy fixture list, which has already forced Lancashire to go into today's crucial Championship match against Leicestershire at Old Trafford without Atherton, leaving Nathan Wood and Paddy McKeown to open.
They are also without Neil Fairbrother with his ankle injury and Ian Austin, who missed his third Championship game of the season because of the knee problem he sustained at Sussex in April.
Austin has been playing in pain ever since, and Lancashire decided to give him a break now so that he is fit for next week's game against Gloucestershire and after that the NatWest semi.
Flintoff replaced Mark Chilton in the middle order with Glen Chapple coming in for Austin after being unlucky to miss out at Colwyn Bay. He is top of Lancashire's first class bowling averages and underlined his form with five wickets against Notts on Tuesday.
Leicestershire were without Chris Lewis - surprise, surprise - with a back problem but today's play was washed out.