At his peak, he was regarded as the most intimidating strike bowler on the globe – but he has steadily fallen from those heights, and is on the brink of being totally forgotten.
'In Jamaica in 2004, Steve Harmison produced quite possibly the most menacing and lethal spells of pace bowling ever seen'
Steve Harmison is threatening to retire if he is not selected for the upcoming Test series against New Zealand.
He has mentioned that it is not a threat nor an ultimatum, delivering the reality that it is exactly that. Harmison, a lanky lad was born in Ashington, a small village in Northumberland that lays claim to being the birthplace of the renowned Charlton brothers. He was 19 went he went with a England A outfit to tour South Africa in 1998-99 – but even then he was prone to injuries and developed what has been a constant malaise to the man – homesickness.
He had no real impact at international level, despite touring with an English Academy team that toured to Australia in 2001-2 – and even then did not make his Test match debut until mid 2002 when he replaced Simon Jones to debut at Trent Bridge against India.
It was here that and in the upcoming tours of Australia that Harmison that he revealed his most confusing weapon - his overwhelming tendency to bowl wides, which has seen him in and out of the central contracts awarded by the ECB.
He has also been consistently attacked by the media; initially stirred by his laid-back attitude to matches and touring. Interviews during the Ashes series were particularly damning, with Harmison making remarks that he didn’t really talk to the captain or coach, and was never really concerned about his role in the team as long as he was there.
His supporters made bold claims that Harmison was the new Curtly Ambrose, and while at moments this looked true, his inconsistency and ability to bowl countless no-balls prevented the constant comparison.
Then, after flying home injured from England's tour of Bangladesh, the remarks about his diffidence continued, before the first highlight of his chequered career.
In Jamaica in 2004, Steve Harmison produced quite possibly the most menacing and lethal spells of pace bowling ever seen. Harmison bowled the unbelievable figures of 7 for 12, spearheading England to demolish the West Indians for 47. This form continued as England whitewashed both the West Indians and the New Zealanders. He ended this period by being rated as the premier Test bowler of the world, and took 67 wickets for the calendar year breaking Ian Botham’s record set in 1978.
But the lack of desire and impetuous nature again came to the fore with the following years' tour of South Africa when he had a shocking Test series, and with a calf strain and publically admitted to the press that he was hoping to fail his fitness tests so he could be sent home early.
In the 2005 Ashes, he recaptured his form and continued the promise with Harmison claiming a five-wicket haul in the first Test innings, backed up by a further three wickets in the second innings. While he was not as impressive in the second Test, he claimed the final wicket of Michael Kasprowicz which ensured England claimed victory to begin the momentum of the Ashes fightback.
At Old Trafford he provided the knockout punch for England taking the prized scalp of Ricky Ponting after he had made a gritty 156, and then at Trent Bridge he took four wickets. He was far from England’s most impressive bowler but played a crucial role in the breakthrough win.
This was almost the end of Harmison's role with England – again being inconsistent despite a brilliant 6-19 return against Pakistan at Old Trafford. He struggled in the ICC champions trophy, and retired from one-day cricket after being left out of the one-day team to tour Australia after England were wiped 5-0 by a rampant Baggy Green team.
He has received continuous central contracts since, despite continued problems with his back and form. His last Test was against New Zealand. the first of the most recent series, where he was dropped for poor form after being asked to prove his fitness playing domestic cricket.
At his prime he was brilliant – but the peak was very rare and not exhibited enough for him to be counted as a great. Coupled with his attitude, lack of desire to travel and having the degrading record of bowling more extra’s than any other international bowler, it is unlikely we will hear from the big man at the top level again.
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