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No Vaughan, no Harmy, but Monty makes it
By Will Monday, last week, 5 Comments »
All rather predictable, I felt - England’s squad announcement, that is. But one man’s name did surprise me: Monty Panesar. He’s been flayed all around Division 2 of the Championship like a particularly forlorn-looking rag doll, and with his batting as sadly inept as it is, will England really risk him at Cardiff? Given Adil Rashid’s impressive pluck shown in the World Twenty20, he could well get a game alongside Graeme Swann for the first Test. Though as a colleague said today, plonking such a young bloke in to make his debut against the Aussies is a quickfire way to kill his confidence and ruin him for years. It’ll make or break him, but I’d rather see his name than Monty and his 70mph rockets, and hapless fielding, and putting it in the right (or wrong) areas (singular - there is only one area)… etc.
Ian Bell, meanwhile, has been told to grow up with his elevation to captaincy of the England Lions - a good decision. It’ll be absolutely fascinating to see how he reacts to it, how he manages the likes of Harmison (selected for the Lions, but not for the main pre-Ashes squad).
Your thoughts?
5 Comments »Harmison delivers Ashes message
By Will 1 month ago, 4 Comments »
It may be a trend, Steve Harmison starting the season well for Durham to yet again persuade England’s selectors that he should be picked. It’s a depressing one though, isn’t it, when his domestic performances are laced with evidence of extreme talent which has only emerged occasionally in internationals, interspersed with nervous and occasionally appauling efforts for England. When he came back last summer, he looked energised and refreshed, and sporadically deadly, but will England risk him for the Ashes again?
George Dobell spoke to the man after a devastating performance against Warwickshire, against whom he took 5 for 39. And smashed several players on the head, arm and other limbs:
Nor was the damage just on the scorecard. Harmison also landed three crashing blows on the head, hand and arm of Tony Frost, Ian Bell and Chris Woakes respectively. It was, one lot of five wides apart, a top-quality spell of fast bowling that will not so much nudge the England selectors as grab them by the shoulders and shake them.
“It’s the worst thing in the world when you hit somebody,” Harmison said afterwards. “I really don’t like it at all. I **** myself when I hit Tony Frost. I was upset by that. And the same when I hurt Ian Bell.
“But on flat, slow wickets, you have to do something different and my variation is being aggressive and bowling bouncers.
“There’s not been a result here in 20 championship games and you can see why. There’s not much pace in the pitch, but it does have good carry. You have to have something different if you’re going to win here. If we can make them follow-on we can put some nervous twitches inside the Warwickshire dressing room.
“I showed my experience today. In the last two weeks I haven’t had to exert myself because of the wickets we’ve been playing on. I’ve had rewards in all three games, but this one is the most pleasing because it is a flat wicket. I had to exert myself a lot more today.
“And I came up against good players. Belly is a really good player. For him not to be in the Test team is something I struggle to comprehend. And the way Frost carried on after being hit on the head was credit to him.”
One thing is for certain: the selection for the England Lions match will be crucial and fascinating.
4 Comments »Flintoff proves his bowling worth
By Mark Tilley 3 months ago, 1 Comment »
Just how good is Andrew Flintoff ? At 140-6, needing 33 runs to win off just 16 balls, the West Indies were knocking down the door at England. Denesh Ramdin was thick edging for four, there were singles everywhere and the game looked to be headed right down to the thinnest of wires. Step forward, Freddie. Probably one of the best death bowlers in the world right now, Flintoff fired out Ramdin with a fast leg stump yorker. That alone may have ended the host’s pursuit but it wasn’t enough for Flintoff. He then trapped LBW new man Ravi Rampaul with a quick, full delivery before achieving both his hat-trick and a five-wicket haul with another yorker to Sulieman Benn.
Flintoff, tired, battle hardened and at the end of a long, long tour, had won the game and, more importantly, the series for England in the space of three balls. His nonchalant celebration upon bowling Benn did a fine job of hiding the jubilation he was likely feeling inside. Injuries and defeat had ravaged Flintoff’s tour to the point where Kevin Pietersen was probably not alone in wanting to head home as soon as possible. His batting has come in for more criticism after, one innings aside, a painfully lean period. But his bowling is an impossibly vital component in England’s one day planning. He is frighteningly accurate, has the ability to mix up his pace to confuse the batsman and take crucial wickets when needed. The man really is worth his weight in gold.
He becomes the third Englishman to take a hat trick in one day cricket. The other two? You’d hardly believe it. James Anderson and Steve Harmison. The next time England are getting carted to all corners of the ground in a one day match, will you honestly believe that three of the bowlers on display have one day hat tricks to their names?
1 Comment »Khan to the rescue?
By Mark Tilley 4 months ago, 4 Comments »
The start made to Test cricket yesterday by England’s most recent pace bowling attempt Amjad Khan will have provided fans with a touch of consternation. Five no-balls, including three in his opening over, indicated a nervous start and Khan conceded 27 off his four overs in the fading Trinidad light. It was almost as if the man he has edged ahead of, Steve Harmison, had given Khan that same advice that Harmison himself was given on that fateful Brisbane morning in 2006.
What a relief, then, for England fans the next morning. Soon after Stuart Broad had removed night-watchman Daren Powell for a duck, Khan was brought on and picked up the prized wicket of West Indian run machine Ramnaresh Sarwan, bowling fast, full and, most importantly, straight. Not only were the nerves of yesterday evening gone, he had also removed Sarwan, a man who has not just been a thorn in England’s side but rather sticking right the way through them as he plundered run after run after run.
Khan’s spell this morning had all the verve and potential that England have desperately needed this series. The pitches have been slow, about as slow as a Brendan Nash over, and wickets have been hard to come by. Now I don’t assume at all that Khan is the sole answer to England winning this Test but his style of bowling is probably just what they need on these types of surfaces. There is also the possibility of reverse swing, which will have bowling experts licking their lips. Reverse swing - that key component that England have sought after ever since Simon Jones brutally harassed the Australians in 2005. Khan has also slipped in a few excellent short balls; fast, well directed and with just about enough controlled aggression to trouble the West Indians.
It’s still early on this third day but the wicket of Sarwan will have boosted England and they will be growing ever so slightly in confidence as a result. A long way to go still, but Khan may be on the correct path to helping bring England level in this series.
4 Comments »England’s bowling attack
By Mark Tilley 5 months ago, 3 Comments »
Is it just me or do England have a seriously good looking attack on display in the current Test match? Speed-wise, even the most skeptical of cricket fans would have to admit it’s impressive. Steve Harmison, Andrew Flintoff, James Anderson and, to a slightly lesser extent, Stuart Broad are all genuinely capable of the odd delivery in excess of 90 mph and they give the captain a wealth of options.
Harmison is painfully erratic and may well be a spent force but he is still capable of rattling his opponents, even if his days are becoming increasingly numbered. Flintoff is as reliable and dangerous as ever and Broad is a developing into a threatening force, fresh from his maiden five wicket haul in Jamaica last week. Jimmy Anderson, like Harmison, can be inconsistent but his pace is an asset and he can be a genuine strike bowler, especially when the ball is swinging (anyone remember 7-43 against New Zealand in Nottingham?).
But the decision to replace Monty Panesar with Graeme Swann could also be the most important one. Panesar’s recent struggles are heavily documented and he was out-bowled by Swann during England’s toiling in India. Swann’s ability with the willow also means England can potentially bat down to 9, so if he can turn it on with the ball in the way that Panesar hasn’t been able to for a while, then England will surely be forced to give him a run in the side.
Far be it from me to play the role of England selector, but the current bowling attack would probably be my first choice to play when the Aussies come to town in July. I would allow a bit of room for change over the spinner, as Panesar, for all his troubles, is capable of being dangerous but if you pinned me down and asked me for a set of names, then I’d be happy to give you this lot. It’s harsh on Ryan Sidebottom but he’d always be in contention to play, dependant on the conditions. The same goes for Simon Jones, although he may or may not ever be fit again.
Thoughts - would anyone rather see Monty back? Is there still life in Harmison? Answers on a postcard please.
3 Comments »Bouncebackability
By Mark Tilley 5 months ago, 1 Comment »
It was football manager Iain Dowie who first coined this term, way back when his Crystal Palace side were struggling in the English Premier League. The phrase refers to a teams ability to bounce back from a defeat or any kind of adversity. Well, this England cricket side have suffered said adversity and then some. How do they respond to the humiliation of last week’s 51 all out?
The expected change has come. Owais Shah replaces Ian Bell at number three in the order and Steve Harmison has also been left out, in favour of James Anderson. Will it make the difference that England need? Shah’s inclusion has been long championed by England fans and pundits alike. It is perhaps a tad harsh on Harmison who didn’t bowl terribly badly in Jamaica but perhaps the feeling was that a change was needed.
The outfield is a concern in Antigua. Heavy rainfall has left area’s of the ground covered in sand and the bowlers run up, in particular, is an point of worry. However, England shouldn’t use the conditions as an excuse. They have a lot of making up to do and they had better start it soon. Alistair Cook could do with a big score to settle the doubters about him and if Kevin Pietersen should find himself in the late 90’s again, surely he will be looking for singles this time.
All in all, it looks like a fascinating Test. A nerve-wracking one too, if you’re an England follower.
1 Comment »Who should England drop? You decide
By Will 5 months ago, 12 Comments »
Given England’s current debacle, it’s high-time we all did what England fans love to do: pretend we’re the selectors. It’s all very well everyone moaning about how dire the situation is when we all know how gleeful we really are. Britons can’t cope with success; we do, however, do a great line in depression and cynicism. This is our time. Stand tall, England fans, and show the world how we thrive in this meadow of misery.
I’ve chosen Cook, Bell, Harmison and Collingwood as the four candidates in the firing line, and you can choose a maximum of two to be dropped. So, vote in the poll and leave a comment with your reasoning.
12 Comments »‘He’s in a good place’ - oh toss off
By Will last year, mid-November, 5 Comments »
Right. I need some help. Over the past 12 months or so, the phrase “he’s in a good place” has sprung up like a particularly virilent form of hospital super bug and it’s resisting every fathomable disinfectment. It’s everywhere. Steve Harmison has been described as “in a good place” ever since he returned to the England side, and now Andrew Symonds has also joined him in this happy sphere of goodness. Form counts for nothing these days, despite what Peter Moores bangs on about (”yeah. He’s looking a million dollars in the nets”). It’s all about how happy they are; whether they’re in their special, good place.
Where is it, and how do you gain entry? Answers on a postcard, or ideally in the comments below.
5 Comments »KP’s diary: Harmy avoids need to go toilet
By Will last year, mid-November, 4 Comments »
Alan Tyers (or Alany as he prefers to be known) has hacked into Kevin Pietersen’s inbox and found his diary. What secrets does he have for us?
4 Comments »Some of the boys went to the market to see if they could pick up any local handicrafts (DVDs, knock-off iPods, etc). Harmison said he didn’t want to go because it might be dangerous, or noisy, or even both, and also what if he needed to do toilet? But Flintoff said he was going and Harmison then said: “I love markets, they’re great.”
So I told Flintoff and Harmison not to get up to any mischief and sent Sidebottom along with them. I try and pair up the sensible ones with the not so reliable lads in a sort of mentoring programme. Cook has done wonders with Belly, for instance. Belly now gets his own cereal in the morning and eats it quietly even if the little plastic toy has already been taken by someone else. We’re growing together as a group.
Our Steve’s diaries, like
By Will last year, at the start of November, No Comments; be the first!
Alan Tyers’ has spoken to Steve Harmison for his insider-diary series (last week it was Ian Bell):
No Comments »Sure, all of us want to be a millionaire but not at all costs. We make sacrifices, I accept that: for instance, I’m willing to play cricket. And if absolutely necessary, abroad. But seeing your lass used as a plaything for a billionaire?
“Go back to Durham and bowl.” Do we owe Harmison an apology?
By Will last year, at the end of September, 2 Comments »
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Six months. That is the brief time that it has taken Steve Harmison to return to his best form: “career-best form,” Justin Langer said recently. And in taking the final wicket of Martin Saggers, Durham beat Kent to clinch their first Championship title. They were made to wait - Nottinghamshire were chasing something vast against Hampshire - but the celebrations are well and truly underway. Much of their success is owed to Harmison’s return to form: his return from New Zealand, six months ago, to bowl and bowl and bowl for Durham. He’s taken wickets in all formats of the game, at vital times, and has been their matchwinner.
As Rob Steen says, “tucking into humble pie is part of a journalist’s lot,” and although most humble pie is generally accepted to be acrid in taste, this particular bowl-full is delicious. We castigated his character, derided his perceived lack of motivation, laughed, pitied and shamed him. And to an extent, everyone bar the man himself, now has egg on their face to an extent. But so what? We’ve got we wanted all along: the fast bowler we knew he was capable of being, even if that meant he needed miles in his legs. I can comfortably stomach humble pie and egg so long as he continues in this manner.
He has taken 60 Championship wickets at 22.35 this season. Only James Tomlinson (67) and Adil Rashid (62. Err, hello?) have snaffled more, while his strike-rate of 41.5 suggests Langer was probably spot on. He is back to his best.
And yet, I’m bitter and cynical enough to wonder how long this new-found form and spirit and venom will last. And it’s no wonder, too, given his history. Is this a breakthrough or a respite from his normal self?
Somehow, in spite of all that has gone before, I sense a bowler now in tune with his own needs and those of his team. Munch away on that pie, and long may it last.
2 Comments »Speedgun accuracy is “crap” says Harmison
By Will last year, at the end of August, 6 Comments »
I’ve long eyed the readouts from speedguns with cynical caution. I’m sure Graham Napier is capable of bowling at 90mph, but in his first over, in a Lord’s final, at 93mph? Nope. And if you watch any one-dayer, bowlers’ speeds miraculously gain about 5mph on their average. Perhaps it’s the added energy they give, safe in the knowledge of only bowling a maximum of 10 overs. Or maybe, as is the more likely reason, the speedgun is crap.
Steve Harmison thinks so: “I think those speed guns are a load of crap. Somehow the white ball goes faster - I bowled 83-84mph in the Test match, and 93mph in the one-dayers. It’s crazy. I hadn’t bowled a ball for ten days.”
6 Comments »Harmison unretires from one-dayers
By Will last year, mid-August, 7 Comments »
“After careful consideration and having taken advice from several people who have been close to me throughout my career, I have decided to retire from one-day international cricket with immediate effect,” said Harmison in a statement. “This has been a difficult decision but I want to play at the highest level for as long as I can and believe that concentrating solely on Test cricket is the best way forward for me during the next phase of what will hopefully be a long England career.”
“After recently being asked by the England management to reassess my retirement from international one-day cricket I’ve decided to join England’s ODI squad after careful consideration,” Harmison said. “It’s something I have been thinking about for a period of time and due to recent injuries in the England camp the opportunity has arisen for me to play a role in this series.
“I decided to retire from England’s ODI team for a number of reasons, one being the amount of time I was spending away from my family,” he said. “Now that my family is settled and my bowling is settled I feel I have something to offer England’s ODI side and am looking forward to playing a part in the series against South Africa.”
He’s good for a laugh is our Steve, isn’t he? Who knows what he’ll say tomorrow. Perhaps he’ll divorce his wife for the good of the England team, or become a vegetarian. Who honestly knows? But either way, I’m excited about this new, carefree, “my family is settled; my bowling is settled” cliche-riddled Harmison. He bowled magnificently in his comeback Test, so don’t discount a series-altering performance from him - if selected - in the coming weeks.
This could be his second coming, you know…
7 Comments »England depend on Harmison for the Ashes
By Will last year, mid-August, 18 Comments »
Harmison and Pietersen celebrate against South Africax
Forgive me. I was going to wait at least another week before mentioning the A word, but with the recall of Steve Harmison proving such a success, it’s high time I stated the bleeding obvious. The success of next year’s Ashes depends rather a lot on Harmison, and today was a case in point.
He led the attack, bowling a tight line to Hashim Amla and Jacques Kallis, both of whom were dismissed by him. James Anderson supported him well. So too did Stuart Broad. But where was Flintoff? He was enjoying a well-earned break from leading England’s attack in the slip cordon. Only at 12.20pm was he introduced into the attack and, having been battered by Harmison and to a lesser extent Anderson, Flintoff - less pressure on him owing to Harmison’s earlier bulldozing - did what he does best: add a big bottle of Lancastrian tobasco.
Flintoff has occasionally managed to be England’s best bowler and their most fearsome and feared while Harmison has bottled it. But England’s attack is so better balanced with a firing Harmison that everyone else just slots in. Anderson swings it as Matthew Hoggard used to. Broad is still in his infancy as a Test bowler, but the signs are promising.
I fully expect Harmison to bottle it again - be it in India or West Indies. But I’ve been genuinely surprised how good he has looked in this Test. Perhaps after all these years, it’s finally kicked in: he must bowl, bowl and bowl. Who knows? He could yet murder Australia next summer, and England will cling onto that hope - however forlorn it probably sounds to our Aussie readers. I fully expect most of you to either disagree with me or, for the Aussies, to call me a pathetic pommy dreamer. And I may well be, but one thing’s for certain: if Harmison is at his best next year, England will regain the Ashes.
By the by, in exactly 12 months, we’ll be on the fourth day of the fourth Ashes Test. Will it be sealed already? Yes, probably, but let’s pretend Australia really are as fragile as we hope they will be. Which England side would you plump for?
18 Comments »England v South Africa, 4th Test, The Oval, 1st day
By Will last year, at the start of August, 2 Comments »
Steve Harmison is back; Stuart Broad returns. And Kevin Pietersen leads England out for the first time. Here’s the scorecard…leave your thoughts below.
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