***Official*** South Africa in England

[Uppercut]

Who?

Anyone really. If ODIs and test cricket were considered completely separate entities, Harmison wouldn't even be considered for the role, don't you think?

 

[Goughy]

Anyone really. If ODIs and test cricket were considered completely separate entities, Harmison wouldn't even be considered for the role, don't you think?

Why not?

He retired in 2006 and was Englands number 1 ranked ODI bowler in the World rankings that year. He has an almost exact career record to Jimmy Anderson and he provides something different.

For want to a superstar quality ODI bowler, Id certainly pick him.

 

[Uppercut]

Why not?

He retired in 2006 and was Englands number 1 ranked ODI bowler in the World rankings. He has an almost exact career record to Jimmy Anderson and he provides something different.

For want to a superstar quality ODI bowler, Id certainly pick him.

I don't feel very strongly on the issue one way or the other. Really, the point of what I was saying was that pundits advocate picking Harmison for ODIs on the grounds that it might make him a bit sharper in tests, and that shows a general disrespect for the format IMO.

 

[Goughy]

I don't feel very strongly on the issue one way or the other. Really, the point of what I was saying was that pundits advocate picking Harmison for ODIs on the grounds that it might make him a bit sharper in tests, and that shows a general disrespect for the format IMO.

Fair enough. I can see that. I agree with you shouldnt be picking a guy in ODIs to get him ready for Tests. However, if its an advantageous by-product then its gravy.

 

[Uppercut]

Fair enough. I can see that. I agree with you shouldnt be picking a guy in ODIs to get him ready for Tests. However, if its an advantageous by-product then its gravy.

It's just a point of interest. Contrast with in Australia, where this is the biggest one-day series they can play at the moment, 1st vs 2nd. I don't imagine they'd look at the team for the first ODI and say "hmm, yes, will be good that he gets some preparation for the test series we have in two months".

 

[GIMH]

In a way it shows a lack of respect (rightly or wrongly) for ODIs that they're selecting a bowler over more able candidates for an ODI series against a major cricketing nation simply in order to ensure he is ready for tests.

Yeah, that's what I was trying to get at wiith "missing the point". ODIs are not warm-up matches for Tests.

Obviously with Harmison there is also the West Indies T20 factor.

 

[Uppercut]

Yeah, that's what I was trying to get at wiith "missing the point". ODIs are not warm-up matches for Tests.

Obviously with Harmison there is also the West Indies T20 factor.

Indeed. The front page of C365:

Steve Harmison has confirmed his return to ODIs, saying it's the result of pressure from the England management. He claims he's been thinking about it for a while. Perhaps since an American landed at Lord's in a helicopter?

 

[GIMH]

Haha, yes, as a colleague remarked earlier, "he says his family are settled now, well they bloody will be when they've got an extra million in the bank"

 

[Uppercut]

Haha, yes, as a colleague remarked earlier, "he says his family are settled now, well they bloody will be when they've got an extra million in the bank"

Courtesy of the now-defunct thegoogly.com

 

[GIMH]

 

[pup11]

Well its good for Harmison as he also now has a chance to get his hands on Stanford' millions, but its not good news for England that they have had to go back to someone like Harmison, as Harmison was never much of a limited overs bowler and the other thing is they have tried the likes of Mahmood, Tremlett, Plunkett, and lot of other young fast bowlers since Harmison retired from Odi cricket, but none of those youngsters have been able to stay fit or be effective, so that really is something for England to worry about.

 

[Prince EWS]

Swann being left out while Wright plays and bats 8 has to be a joke, surely. Is Swann injured?

 

[Goughy]

Well its good for Harmison as he also now has a chance to get his hands on Stanford' millions, but its not good news for England that they have had to go back to someone like Harmison, as Harmison was never much of a limited overs bowler and the other thing is they have tried the likes of Mahmood, Tremlett, Plunkett, and lot of other young fast bowlers since Harmison retired from Odi cricket, but none of those youngsters have been able to stay fit or be effective, so that really is something for England to worry about.

Harmison has both a better average and econ rate than the following players

I Sharma
RP Singh
S Sreesanth
JEC Franklin
MR Gillespie
MJ Mason
DJ Bravo

His record puts him in the same class as

SR Clark
Z Khan
JM Anderson

Now he isnt Joel Garner or Wasim Akram but he isnt terrible in ODIs. Far from it. I think he is one of the better ODI bowlers available for England.

 

[Scaly piscine]

And Prior nearly out straight away.

Stewart the idiotic Prior fan on commentary, will be interesting to see how biased he'll be.

 

[GIMH]

Interesting line-up, Fred batting at 5, as requested by yours truly, let's see how this goes. Don't know what to think.

 

[Scaly piscine]

Yea Flintoff has to bat at 4/5, forgot how bad Prior's record was, top score of 52 in 23 innings before today, that his only 50.

 

[GIMH]

I'm amazed Prior is still there, good work

 

[GIMH]

solid start, this

 

[Prince EWS]

I'm amazed Prior is still there, good work

TBH he often got starts like this - 20 off 30 balls including four of the best boundaries you'll see, followed by an absolute gift of a wicket. That's what made him so frustrating.

 

[stumpski]

Swann being left out while Wright plays and bats 8 has to be a joke, surely. Is Swann injured?

Quite - if they're going to play Wright at eight, they may as well have picked Bresnan instead. Only three front-line bowlers, and Wright may not even get a knock.