Harmison the Lion!

Steve Harmison is apparently going to play two first class matches for the Highveld Lions in South African domestic cricket to prove his fitness before the Sri Lanka series.

Considering his excellent career record in South Africa a spokesman for the Lions said that they were "dead chuffed" Harmison had decided to sign for them.

Plunkett is also going to play with some dolphins, but this time for the whole Winter.

http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/southafrica/content/current/story/315801.html

Good for him. Good for the other him. They'll need translators unless SA's can speak some Makaton. I know Mr. Makaton can, but WTF about the rest???? WTF will those counts do?????

Gary 111 wrote:Steve Harmison is apparently going to play two first class matches for the Highveld Lions in South African domestic cricket to prove his fitness before the Sri Lanka series.

Considering his excellent career record in South Africa a spokesman for the Lions said that they were "dead chuffed" Harmison had decided to sign for them.

Plunkett is also going to play with some dolphins, but this time for the whole Winter.

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http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/southafrica/content/current/story/315801.html[/quote[/url]]

Time to decamp to the Titans then.

After all I have only supported the Lions for just over 30 years.

Plunkett will do a good job at FC level in SA, and it could bring on his game too.

Harmison? Hmmm. Nice of SA to allow England bowlers a warm up session in their FC cricket as well as letting us raid their U21's

Gotta say it's quite odd considering all the hoo haa surrounding quota's in South Africa that 2 domestic teams are quite happy to sign up a couple of overseas white players.

Fair play to him, for doing something proactive, or at least agreeing to it.

Seems to me that means he will be touring SL, and no doubt is seen as a pre-requisite still!

Good to see Gibson going with him as well.

At least the lesson has been learned that bowlers can't just rock up for the first test of a series without any meaningful bowling beforehand.

Im worried that we are still bending over backwards so much for Harmison, sending him on an all expenses paid trip to South Africa with the national teams bowling coach in tow just for him.

No wonder he sometimes comes accross as if he feels an England place is his right.

And he probably isn't that good in the first place.

Well he's not. Apart from a 6 month period where he was world class, he has been pretty ordinary. Id love to see him become a consistent world class quick but I just dont think he has the mental toughness.

Henry wrote:Im worried that we are still bending over backwards so much for Harmison, sending him on an all expenses paid trip to South Africa with the national teams bowling coach in tow just for him.

No wonder he sometimes comes accross as if he feels an England place is his right.

What are they supposed to do? He's been injured, he hasn't had any cricket for months, England obviously want him available for the winter - should they be just crossing their fingers and hoping it all works out somehow?

England have just two warm-up games before the first Test. What on earth is wrong with them being proactive in trying to get a few more overs under Harmison's belt? How is that an example of "bending over backwards" for him?

It's in England's interests that their players are in the best possible condition they can be in, that they're properly prepared for the Sri Lankan tour. And, last time I checked, Harmison was an employee of theirs.

Harmless at his best is better than any available alternative ...so why not try and get him at his best ...

embee wrote:Harmless at his best is better than any available alternative ...so why not try and get him at his best ...

Isn't that what the Wet Toast thought about Cuz?

A bit of 'white line fever' might help Harmy ....

embee wrote:A bit of 'white line fever' might help Harmy ....

Yeah three white lines would be useful, two to painting the channel outside off stump and one perpendicular line marking a good length.

S F Barnes wrote:
Yeah three white lines would be useful, up the nose, with some angry music playing and his 'worst bits' projected on the wall.

Fixed.

Dello wrote:

Henry wrote:Im worried that we are still bending over backwards so much for Harmison, sending him on an all expenses paid trip to South Africa with the national teams bowling coach in tow just for him.

No wonder he sometimes comes accross as if he feels an England place is his right.

What are they supposed to do? He's been injured, he hasn't had any cricket for months, England obviously want him available for the winter - should they be just crossing their fingers and hoping it all works out somehow?

England have just two warm-up games before the first Test. What on earth is wrong with them being proactive in trying to get a few more overs under Harmison's belt? How is that an example of "bending over backwards" for him?

It's in England's interests that their players are in the best possible condition they can be in, that they're properly prepared for the Sri Lankan tour. And, last time I checked, Harmison was an employee of theirs.

On the other hand, Chris Tremlett did very well in his first test series for England, showed a consistency of line that Harmison hasnt had for 3 years, and had good aggression and pretty decent pace. Yet he gets left out because the selectors are still 'hoping' that Harmison can get back to his best form that has so far lasted a total of 6 months in a 5 year test career.

Chris Tremlett doesn't have 200+ Test wickets to his name.

They've already got Sidebottom, Broad, Swann in the squad - how many more rookie bowlers do they need for what is sure to be tough bowling conditions?

Harmison and Hoggard bring some kind of experience to party, if nothing else.

Dello wrote:

Harmison ...... brings some kind of experience to party, if nothing else.

And let's not forget some kind of "variety" too ....!

BTW - who takes 2nd slip now that Fred's crocked ?
Pity the poor bugger.

I'm agin Harmless turning up to party.
Think we have plenty of quick armour ... tried and kinda tested too followig the ODI's these past weeks.

I think at 28 it's way too early to be drawing a line under Harmison's career.

Sure, he's difficult, temperamental, erratic and something of a puzzle. But he's also a match-winner in a way that no other English bowler currently on the scene can match in terms of the carnage a quality spell from him can cause.

And then there's a tour of NZ to come - and they did not fancy Harmison at all when they last met up. It's a good pick, if he's fit.

Whilst agreeing with most of your comments, the only point I'd make is that he isn't going to find the wickets in Sri Lanka at all helpful AND in extremely hot and energy sapping conditions.

Seems that taking a bit of pace off the ball - moving it around a bit as well did the trick - as the ODI trio proved.

However, if Harmie comes good in SA and gets his venom back, certainly throw him into the mix ... till then, it's just hope rather than expectancy I'd say.

But you could say the same about the selection of any of the bowlers - hope rather than expectancy.

Broad hasn't played Test match cricket and mostly went at five an over in a low-scoring ODI series.

Swann doesn't have an amazing FC record and his inclusion is something of a punt.

Hoggard hasn't completed an international match in around a year - what kind of shape is he in?

I think the wickets will have a little bit in them early on to make the most out of Malinga and Fernando's pace and bounce. Harmison could be a handy option. And he's something different compared to the 80mph swing bowlers that make up the rest of the squad.

Please, please dont play Harmison, he's only ever effect on bouncy, pacy pitches. He'll be no good in SL.

JD -
True overall picture .. sure.
But in Harmie's case it is a fact that hope is the prevalent factor.
His inconsistency and then mental disintegration is proven ... so unless he hits a groove first up and then stays there, the likeliehood is that the shattered confidence will return.

With Hoggard it's different - he is the epitome of the work-horse ... takes a few nets then hits the straps. Stamina might be lacking here though.

Broad - yes, I agree ... very green so needs bringing on in the long game .. but the paradox here is that he is a bloody handy bat to have in the bottom 4!

Sideshow has excelled ... hope he is an ink-in - Anderson less so ... though did well in the ODI's.

Monty and Swann in the same unit .... nice if we can afford it with runs in the bank ... sadly I doubt that!

So...

Cook
Vaughan
Bell
Pietersen
Collingwood
Shah
Prior
Swann
Broad
Hoggard
Panesar

? Or is that too light on pace bowlers.