Given the England cricket team is still perilously close to a series defeat against Sri Lanka and considering the fact his three wickets came at a cost of 111 runs, it might seem strange to talk about the salvation of Steve Harmison.
It is no secret that Harmison has always received more support from his native North-East than he has from the rest of the country, because, put simply, people in the North-East like to see one of their own doing well on the national and international stage.
But it is also no secret that some factions of the cricket fraternity have always been, and are perhaps increasingly, keen to write off the Ashington Express as a fragile, inconsistent northern upstart who would be better off staying with Durham while more media-friendly, southern-based bowlers get the chance to play for their country.
Harmison’s performance in the early hours of Wednesday morning in conditions which were about as much use to a fast bowler as an ice lolly on the moon was full of pace, bounce and venom. In other words, precisely the qualities he is expected to bring to the attack with ball in hand.
The nature of his wickets, the work-rate and the economy rate in searing heat which drained the life out of the pitch, as well as the England players, was the perfect riposte to those who have begun to call time on his England career. Including my older brother, who, some would say, knows about as much about cricket as he does about quantum physics!
It wasn’t quite vintage Harmy, there wasn’t the regular tumbling of wickets which might have put England in a winning position in the Second Test, but there was consistency in line and length and, with it, a consistent threat to the Sri Lankan batsman. His figures are unspectacular in many ways, but this was arguably the rebirth of a player who, three years ago, was ranked the best in the world.
Significantly, although his 41.5 overs cost more than 100 runs, they went for just 2.65 runs each, with no wides and just one no ball. His rival for the fast bowler slot, the younger and leaner Stuart Broad were slightly more economical, but he was less threatening and, as a result, Harmison was asked to bowl more by captain Michael Vaughan.
It is difficult to assess England’s tour so far. In one respect, there should be criticism. They are one-nil down in the series and need to save the Second Test on the final day to avoid losing the series with one Test left to play. Sri Lanka were annihilated by Australia Down Under just a few days before the start of this Tour and England have failed to get anywhere near that now the Sri Lankans are back on home soil.
However, the beauty of cricket is that the stats never tell the full story. England have held their own in Sri Lanka, if not quite ever managing to dominate their hosts in a way which would put them into a winning position.
Had Ryan Sidebottom not been given out in a dreadful decision by the umpires late on the final day of the First Test, England may well have saved that game. In the Second Test, they have flirted with victory at times only to allow Sri Lanka off the hook at crucial times, particularly with the ball on Wednesday.
If I’m being brutal, England deserve to lose this match because they were not ruthless enough when it mattered, but this is a young team which is, to some extent, having to learn on its feet. Sri Lanka are a formidable side at home and, if England can force a draw on Thursday, they still have the chance to square the series in the Third Test. In the circumstances that would represent success - particularly if SJ Harmison is the match-winner!
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