Will Harmison get his groove back?
Schadenfreude or taking pleasure in another's misfortune is not an admirable trait... unless it's at the expense of England's spearhead bowler Steve Harmison. Harmie has fallen badly in recent times - from being dubbed Grievious Bodily Harmison in 2005 to last week adding a new phrase to cricket's lexicon: Shoddyline. Now every man and his dog (probably including the one that bit Matt Hayden) is lining up to offer advice on how Harmison can get back his mojo. Dennis Lillee offered to help with his bowling action. Darren Gough says Harmison needs a cuddle. Even Australian bowling coach Troy Cooley has offered advice. At first I was concerned about this until I read his advice was to change nothing. If Harmison continues to bowl as he did in Brisbane, I'm quite okay with that.
England bowling coach Kevin Shine has been working hard with Harmison - they even had a secret net session yesterday where media and the public were banned from watching. Looking at a photo of the session explains why - the net pitch is a veritable obstacle course with little plastic markers, witches hats and even ski slalom poles to help indicate where Harmison needs to run up and bowl. I wouldn't be surprised to see big coloured footsteps on the ground to show Harmison where to step. But if you thought Harmison could sink no lower, England have asked Whispering Death himself, Michael Holding to help Harmison out. That might sound promising until you hear what ideas Holding brought to the table:
"I saw the pictures in the newspapers where they had put some cones down on the ground where they are seemingly trying to get him to straighten, but I think he needs something a bit higher up. Perhaps they could use an inflatable doll to stand up in the crease and every time he brushes it you know he is still leaning."Did I read that right? A desperate England go to one of the greatest fast bowlers of all time and he comes back to them with a blow-up doll? I think Mr Holding is having trouble separating his professional life from his personal life. Unfortunately, it's a fundamentally flawed plan and couldn't possibly help Harmison bowl any better at the Adelaide Oval - the security guards would confiscate and puncture the doll well before it had a chance to get on the field.
| Posted by JC on Thu 30 Nov |  4 comments |
I think they should provide different 'cones' to Harmison to get him 'higher up' on the crease.
Posted by TA on 2006-11-30 11:58:27
Posted by TA on 2006-11-30 11:58:27
Harmison will not bowl as badly as he did at the Gabba. He can't! Beware the Poms. With McGrath possibly an omission and Brett Lee bowling like, well Brett Lee,
and with Ponting also under a cloud, and with our other quicks largely untried, we are up against it. We jumped them at the Gabba, caught them with their pants down and unprepared. Pure and simple.
If McGrath can't play, I would not risk Tait. His unplayables are interspersed with garbage; bit like Brett really. OK to wipe out a tail but not much else.
Posted by Dan Tas on 2006-11-30 12:20:17
and with Ponting also under a cloud, and with our other quicks largely untried, we are up against it. We jumped them at the Gabba, caught them with their pants down and unprepared. Pure and simple.
If McGrath can't play, I would not risk Tait. His unplayables are interspersed with garbage; bit like Brett really. OK to wipe out a tail but not much else.
Posted by Dan Tas on 2006-11-30 12:20:17
If McGrath misses due to an injured ankle, the series is unfolding just too much like 2005 for my liking. On the bright side, there is nil chance of Ponting winning the toss at Adelaide and sending England in :-)
Posted by JC on 2006-11-30 12:34:40
Posted by JC on 2006-11-30 12:34:40
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