A few thoughts on England

[Goatman]

Originally Posted by flanflinger

But I feel if he gets an early session right in the next one, and relaxes into the game, picks up a few (in between some ordinary bowling he did bowl some vicious balls) early wickets, he may just find himself back on top again.

If Harmison lucks out in his first over, that could easily be enough to calm him a little. But Fletch and MPV should be making it clear (in private) to thier players that when he does start taking a few, they should keep a lid on it until he has bowled a string of decent overs. It'll be a bit like getting over the yips for him - I'm sure he's bowling like a machine in the nets when no-one watching! Actually, if I remember right, he bowled really well against the Nicky Oftenhopeless XI (checks.....) yep - 1 for 8 off 7. Commentary (from memory) said that they were surviving purely by the lucky coincidence of missing the ball as they fenced and fended. Match report says:-

"Harmison, fresh from a two-month break, was certainly speedy in an opening spell that whistled through at an uncomfortable height for the Oppenheimer pairing of Andre Seymore and Francois du Plessis, while at the other end, Matthew Hoggard chugged in contentedly in a controlled foray that claimed the first wicket of the day, a fenced edge from du Plessis that was comfortably caught low down by Trescothick at first slip. England's back-up seamers did not enjoy quite the same degree of respect, however."

Clearly, no pressure = no problem!

Batsmen who are new at the crease make errors - especially if they are called Gibbs. Maybe next time out he'll leave a straight one from Steve.........

[Milo]

Surely pegging back the off-stump of the opposition's premier batsman in the first innings of the series for a duck should have given anyone the confidence.

Problem with Harmison (which is often the problem with pace bowlers bowling at Perth), he came to SA being told there was quick bouncy pitches and he has not bowled with the control that you must do. He started to believe that all he had to do was turn up and the wickets would come. As you say, he was described as fresh in the tour opener, but as soon as he plays poorly he is described as rusty and underprepared.

Excuse upon excuse upon excuse. I for one get quite sick of them.

[Goatman]

Originally Posted by Milo

Excuse upon excuse upon excuse. I for one get quite sick of them.

Hense my jibe at special pleading. Confidence problems, if that is what he has, are neither an excuse or excusable - they are a fact. They exist, or they don't exist. Its difficult for us sitting in our comfy chairs to understand (and I for one am sitting here in a very comfy chair, going "for Chrissake - if I had half that mans talent...."), but all people have monkeys on thier back, and some find them harder to shift than others.

If he did have demons after all those years of being told he was the bees knees in Durham, they should have been banished when he backed up Sabina Park again and again in WI and then again in ENG. If they haven't been, added to the fact that he is a poor tourist of some reknown, that could be more than enough to explain a series of poor performances. But if that is the problem, then someone should give him some therapy, or some meditation lessons or a big slap or SOMETHING!

"Come on man! Act your age!" I say. But in saying that I remind myself that he is a man, not a mechanism.

[Pabs]

There was an interesting feature on him in the Grauniad a few weeks back: http://sport.guardian.co.uk/cricket/...372583,00.html

Soft lad!

[Richie Benauds Love Child]

"Excuse me sir my harmisons broken". SOunds like a dodgy translation from a language dictionary, but you get the idea. Short, not that quick, inaccuarate, the harminator is looking like a bit of a mug at the moment. Hoggard, who I thought would struggle seems to get an opener out at the start of every inings - and good on him. Jones derseves more of a go wit the ball, and still, i think, has a higher batting average than vaughan. Freddie has bowled more than overs than everyone and has worked his bollocks off. Unfortunatly, the heat has fried his brain and he thinks anything short can be hit over deep square leg. No it cant freddie.

Which brings me to the batting. tresco : first innings wafts at a wide one and misses. dreadful shot lucky not to be out. Not content in that does it again next ball and is out. Stupid. If memory serves he had the same problems against SA at home. Vaughan - he has had practice against uncle bobs oppressed 11 so i dont know where his excuse is. Looked awful. Key first innings, very unluck, daft shot admitedly, but after not batting in anger in a month, not a surprise.

And finnally the biggest culprit, Jack "I cant see anything but an england win or a draw" Banister. He has successfully taken the mantel form Brian "OK kevin, is batty going to score this penalty" Moore, by cursing the side beyond belief. I know, in boycs words, batted like lemmings, but he was asking for trouble with that remark.

[Notts Exile]

Originally Posted by Richie Benauds Love Child

Freddie has bowled more than overs than everyone and has worked his bollocks off. Unfortunatly, the heat has fried his brain and he thinks anything short can be hit over deep square leg. No it cant freddie.

Ah but on the Highveld it can!!

Originally Posted by Richie Benauds Love Child

Jones derseves more of a go wit the ball, and still, i think, has a higher batting average than vaughan.

As does Harmison !!

[flanflinger]

Originally Posted by Richie Benauds Love Child

Freddie has bowled more than overs than everyone and has worked his bollocks off.

.

Actually Harmison has bowled the most overs. But I think it is a problem that Freddie and Harmy bowl so much, and probably why Freddie got injured.

We need to get more overs out of Jones, otherwise there is really no point playing a fourh seamer we may as well play an extra batsman!!

[Rahul_Dravid_is_No.1]

did anyone see harmison bowling to 2nd slip. that was funny.
I don't think harmison is all he is cracked up to be and i dont see him being in the topp 5 for very long. that is just my opinion

[Pete]

Yet you think Pathan is going to be an all time great, based on a performance against Bangladesh.

[Rahul_Dravid_is_No.1]

hehe that was goin too far. it is too early in pathan's career to say whether he can become a great i admit i went abit over excited there. maybe in a couple years we can tell. but that was based on performances against australia pakistan south africa and bangladesh. whereas harmison onyl really done well against west indies and new zealand. remember pathan in his first year is top wicket taker of 2004. or something like that. but yes i was being a bit premature about it