: Sun Aug 23, 2009 12:00 pm  

Rooster Booster wrote:

I too am nervous having watch Australia win on poor strips in the past.

Can't believe we declared.

Agreed, if Harmison had got a quick 60 or 70 it could have made all the difference

: Sun Aug 23, 2009 12:03 pm  

Asim wrote:

Well I've made my feelings about Harmison pretty clear, shouldn't be anywhere near the team if you ask me - but it wouldn't surprise me if he did get a couple of wickets at the end to perpetuate the legend that seems to surround him.

Even if he doesn't go to SA I'm sure a few wickets for Durham early next season will have all the usual suspects getting him back in the test team next summer.

Its the same theory that the Aussies had with Devon Malcolm, ie they would have always had him in the team because the opposition don't want to face him, he unsettles people with his pace. Malcolm however was probably more consistently fast and nasty than Harmison is.

Harmison has the legend built around him because from about August 2003 to August 2004 he was the best fast bowler in the world, no England bowler has held that status since Willis two decades ago.

: Sun Aug 23, 2009 12:43 pm  

sally cinnamon wrote:

Harmison has the legend built around him because from about August 2003 to August 2004 he was the best fast bowler in the world, no England bowler has held that status since Willis two decades ago.

5 years ago. It's never been anything like that since.

The guy is shot, mentally and technically. No-one in the coaching set-up will ever coax a respectable level of performance out of him at Test level again.

Having seen how Broad has gone on this pitch, not having Onions in the side has proved to be a mistake, albeit not a fatal one (yet).

It speaks volumes that he hasn't even been given an over today yet.

: Sun Aug 23, 2009 12:54 pm  

Colly Colly Colly!, Ricky Ponting Had To Go!...

: Sun Aug 23, 2009 12:54 pm  

Criconfo commentary:

Looks like Harmison's been given the word to warm up. Not sure what the point is, frankly.

The more we ridicule him the more likely it is he'll get some wickets, right?

: Sun Aug 23, 2009 1:03 pm  

Asim wrote:

Criconfo commentary:



The more we ridicule him the more likely it is he'll get some wickets, right?

Maybe we can just get him to try and bounce there heads off he's not bad at that right...
Stuart Broad is hitting some form here...

: Sun Aug 23, 2009 1:20 pm  

We need a breakthrough but I can't see one coming for a good while yet, these two look set for a long knock

: Sun Aug 23, 2009 1:25 pm  

It's getting abit edgy and by the looks of it the players are feeling it(shocking fielding).

We are in desperate need of a breakthrough. I'd like to think Freddie could end on a high by dragging us through but i'm not sure his body is up to it.

: Sun Aug 23, 2009 1:32 pm  

2 x 50s

: Sun Aug 23, 2009 1:34 pm  

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!