***Official*** English Domestic Season 2008

[Richard]

If I had meant to suggest he (Harmison) should bowl in 2009 as he did in 2005 I would have said so – as I am sure you were aware I was referring to the result.

But in mentioning the result in conjunction with Harmison, logical deduction would be that he would have some impact upon the result, no?

Personally I don’t believe the Harmison of the Caribean tour and the recent Old Trafford test is lost to us yet - I presume you disagree?

I believe the Harmison of the Caribbean tour (notably different to the Harmison of Old Trafford 2006 - and The Oval 2004, and Lord's 2005 for that matter) was only ever present due to inadequacies of batsmen, rather than his own supposed superlativeness.

Yes, in that Caribbean series, and the following one against New Zealand, he bowled more accurately than normal, but a) most wickets came from poor strokes (often attacking as much as defensive) and b) I never, ever believed he could maintain those standards of accuracy. Sure enough, he hasn't. So no, I don't believe he will ever again be that good at bowling or as successful in taking bags of wickets as he did in those 7 Tests in early 2004.

You can never, however, rule-out the odd game of appalling batting such as we saw at The Oval in 2004, Lord's in 2005 (mostly from tailenders, of course) and Old Trafford 2006. So it'd be foolish for me to suggest this is an impossibility.

 

[superkingdave]

Was great to wake up this morning to an Essex win...

 

[fredfertang]

I think that’s a rather harsh judgement Richard – bowlers don’t have to take wickets with unplayable deliveries to be regarded as earning their scalps by good bowling – good spinners buy wickets sometimes and fast bowlers get wickets by softening batsmen up

We all know Harmison is inconsistent and on occasions downright bad but he has had enough great days to keep dreaming of more to come - in time another Larwood perhaps?

 

[Richard]

I think that’s a rather harsh judgement Richard – bowlers don’t have to take wickets with unplayable deliveries to be regarded as earning their scalps by good bowling – good spinners buy wickets sometimes and fast bowlers get wickets by softening batsmen up

If a wicket doesn't come with a ball that has something good about it (and yes that includes a straight ball that follows 8 consecutive outswingers) it's not earned for mine. It doesn't have to be realistically unplayable, but Harmison in 2004 mostly got his wickets with nothing balls. And certainly in the 3 one-off Tests since when he's got big bags that has been the case.

We all know Harmison is inconsistent and on occasions downright bad but he has had enough great days to keep dreaming of more to come - in time another Larwood perhaps?

I don't think he has. For every "good" (even if you suppose that every match he's taken wickets in he's bowled well, which as I say I don't believe true for one second) occasion, there's been more "bad" ones than you can wish to name.

Comparing him to Larwood could not be more insulting to the great man.

 

[fredfertang]

Comparing him to Larwood could not be more insulting to the great man.

Touche mon brave!

 

[Richard]

 

[fredfertang]

Roughly translated it means "You are a silly sod fred - there you are trying to be clever and outmanoeuvre the bloke and he's nipped in and done you - next time check whether he's a Yorkie before you take him on"

 

[Perm]

Was great to wake up this morning to an Essex win...

Too true. I'm pleased to see Cook scoring some limited overs runs too, and Bopara and ten Doeschate grab a couple scalps.

 

[TheEpic]

I thought Cook's innings was painful. The truth is if it wasn't for Napier, Essex would have gotten a pretty sub-par total. Yorkshire could have chased that down on what is quite a small ground, but Kaneria's class and some poor batting let them down.

 

[steds]

Was great to wake up this morning to an Essex win...

Not often you can say that, but yes.

Turned it off when Yorkshire were about 136-1. Thought they'd get it easily.

 

[Richard]

Did you check how many overs were gone?

We were always behind the rate and that only got further once Kaneria and ten Doeschate came on.

 

[steds]

Roughly about 17 left iirc. They had plenty of time and wickets in hand.

 

[Richard]

Nah, we were never 135 for 1 off 17.

 

[steds]

I meant overs left.

 

[Richard]

Aha, I C. Now you have edited the post.

 

[Arjun]

What are your comments on Kaneria's bowling? Looked great for a known ODI misfit.

 

[Jungle Jumbo]

What are your comments on Kaneria's bowling? Looked great for a known ODI misfit.

Always has looked good in country cricket TBH. He played a major role in Essex's back-to-back League titles a few years ago.

 

[open365]

Yeh every time he's appeared on sky he's looked the part

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

On ya, Essex.

Good to see that having a team full of all-rounders + Alasdair Cook and Mark Pettini can get you far in this day and age.

 

[Richard]

Gallian and Bopara are all-rounders now?

And Masters (excellent OD bowler BTW) and Kaneria?