Harmison - underachiever or overrated ?

[wpdavid]

Shame really. GBH has only succeeded in making himself look rather foolish, which I wouldn't have wished upon him.

 

[tooextracool]

The only way to stuff it back to someone is by performing on-field. It is unfortunate that Harmison had to resort to that. I do hope that he does not get a central contract this summer and i do blame him for having to endure the misery of watching the worst spell of bowling in 16 years of watching at Brisbane.

 

[Richard]

Shame really. GBH has only succeeded in making himself look rather foolish, which I wouldn't have wished upon him.

TBH I agree with both in this case. Boycott's right, obviously, about Harmison's performance not being good enough, but Harmison is clearly right that Boycott simply doesn't consider people's feelings with the stuff he says sometimes. It's hardly a surprise if he's unpopular in the England dressing-room, it's exactly the same as Ian Chappell in the Australian one. People who are too blunt do not make friends too readily.

I know Boycott's not paid to make friends. But I think it's a shame if someone will put his job above being, for want of a better word, "nice".

 

[Goughy]

I have a great deal of respect for Boycott though Ive no doubt he can be percieved as (or actualy be) a real **** at times.

He is usually spot on but Id imagine that his comments cut hard in the England dressing room. Not a guy that can easily be ignored or is often quiet and can make life tough for the players. Not his issue though, he is paid for his opinion.

 

[Son Of Coco]

I don't want Stephen Kirby anywhere near an England team. Nor, of course, am I terribly keen on Shreck or Onions either.

FFS, why did Tremlett have to get injured?

Go for Caddick IMO. Been waiting for this for 5 years.

Caddick!





Please, don't select him until the Ashes in 2009 then we'll get true value for his selection.

 

[Richard]

Not sure he's likely to be playing in 2009, think the upcoming may be his last season.

I assure you, though, Australia would profit far more from the likes of Kirby playing in 2009 than Caddick.

 

[Son Of Coco]

Not sure he's likely to be playing in 2009, think the upcoming may be his last season.

I assure you, though, Australia would profit far more from the likes of Kirby playing in 2009 than Caddick.

You might be right, I haven't seen him play but I'm assuming the cupboard is a little bare at the moment.

 

[Richard]

Indeed it is, very much so.

One could even consider the same thing true in Australia, however.

 

[Son Of Coco]

Indeed it is, very much so.

One could even consider the same thing true in Australia, however.

Not bare enough to pick Merv Hughes again though

 

[Richard]

No indeed, I assure you we won't be going back to Graham Dilley either.

 

[Son Of Coco]

No indeed, I assure you we won't be going back to Graham Dilley either.

If life imitates art (and I can assure you that The 12th Man is indeed art) then not only will you pick Graham Dilley, but Tony Grieg and Mark Nicholas too!

 

[Goughy]

Hearing the NZ guys talking about Harmisons comments, Ive hardened my opinion after hearing the words verbalised.

Ive been a huge defender of Harmison on this forum. It ends now.

Steve, you have a lot of people that have defended you through some very poor performances. Be in no doubt that you have disappointed and have benefitted from generous selection policies (which I have agreed with). However, do you think you can continue to play how you have been and still deserve to be picked and paid? English cricket doesnt owe you a living. Your whining is wearing at the patience of your biggest supporters and to expect to perform sub-par for a long period and avoid criticism is plain dumb .

Stop being so ****ing precious and pull your finger out. Get back to bowling 150 kph or GTFO

 

[Son Of Coco]

Hearing the NZ guys talking about Harmisons comments, Ive hardened my opinion after hearing the words verbalised.

Ive been a huge defender of Harmison on this forum. It ends now.

Steve, you have a lot of people that have defended you through some very poor performances. Be in no doubt that you have disappointed and have benefitted from generous selection policies (which I have agreed with). However, do you think you can continue to play how you have been and still deserve to be picked and paid? English cricket doesnt owe you a living. Your whining is wearing at the patience of your biggest supporters and to expect to perform sub-par for a long period and avoid criticism is plain dumb .

Stop being so ****ing precious and pull your finger out. Get back to bowling 150 kph or GTFO

Steven's reply:

There are some former England greats whose opinions are respected by the current players; not just because they have been here and done what we do, but because we know that when they criticise they do not do so just for the sake of their own ego. Then there is Goughy.

No one can dispute the man could bat and everyone is entitled to their opinion, but over the years he has developed an equally well deserved reputation as someone who thrives on kicking a man when he is down.

Goughy has had several digs at me over the years, questioning, among other things, my desire and commitment.

On occasions, there may have been a measure of sense in what he has said and I wouldn't normally respond because, frankly, I have not wanted to get into a war of words with the man.

But enough is enough. His remarks about me this week have gone beyond what is acceptable and it is time someone stood up to him and told him so.

I didn't agree with what our former coach Duncan Fletcher did when revealing certain information about Andrew Flintoff in his book. But I cannot find fault with what he wrote about Goughy.

For the fact is that within the England dressing room his views are regarded as a joke. People who only have a passing interest in the game hear the famous Goughy's Yorkshire accent and may think it gives some status to his opinions.

But inside the dressing room he has no status, he is just an accent, some sort of caricature of a professional Yorkshireman.

Indeed, quite a few of us cringe whenever he comes near. Why? Here's why.

Earlier this week two of the current England batsmen related their feelings towards Goughy and how he works.

Their shared experience was that when things weren't going well for them all they heard from Goughy was him nailing them in the newspapers or on radio or TV, then, if they made a century or played well, he would come up to them full of compliments and try to ingratiate himself with them.

This is what one of the players said and he was speaking for both of them: "We can't believe Goughy. When you're struggling he abuses you in the media and completely ignores you in social situations. Then, if you come up with a performance, his attitude changes totally. Suddenly he wants to be your best mate, sometimes even to somehow take some credit for the improvement. Thanks, but no thanks."

I'm not the only England player who has been forced to take it in the neck from Goughy and I won't be the last.

And I wonder what Australia's Shaun Tait thought recently, when, after announcing he was taking an indefinite break from the game due to physical and emotional exhaustion, Goughy reacted by claiming he should have shown more desire to work through his problems.

You get the feeling that Goughy is an insecure man who needs to be heard.

Well, Goughy, you've had your say about me more than enough times.

Now I'm having mine. You say that if England give me another central contract come October that would be waste of money. To me, you are a waste of space.

 

[Richard]

A little harsh, one feels.

mind. Not bad at all. Befitting that you bring-up your 34th year in such a way.

 

[GIMH]

hahaha SOC mustard

 

[burr]

Think a real underachiever. He made batsmen very uncomfortable, they didn't like facing him, that is not all that common in world cricket. Shame he didn't have it mentally.

 

[DaRick]

I had written a much longer piece before this, but I was unable to post it.

Basically, I agree with the sentiments of both Boycott and Harmison. I agree that Harmison has underachieved for far too long and has dissappointed too many people. I also agree that Boycott has that 'slip the boot in' mentality - something he shares with Robert Craddock. Although I didn't realise that Boycott sucked up to players who he vilified when they weren't they well, I can see him doing so, for he is an egotist.

I believe, FTR, that Harmison is a massive underachiever. Why? Well, when he's at his very best, he can rip through opposition batting lineups.

On the other hand, his action is not that easy to repeat, resulting in wild inaccuracy when he is struggling for rhythm or form. Also, his 'very best' does not occur very often, as many have pointed out. His batting (the epitome of an 'average tailender') and his fielding (he lumbers around) don't help, either. During his peak (2003/04-2004/05), some also tended to overrate and overstate his achievements and prowess (which was down to incompetent or inadequate batting as much as good bowling). I remember my disgust at articles proclaiming him to be the 'best bowler in the world'.

BTW, Richard, you may be referring to Neil Harvey, not Ian Chappell. For all I know though, both may be barred from the Australian dressing room (small wonder in Harvey's case, for he is one of those irrational 'my era was the best' types).

 

[deeps]

haha well done harmison

+1 respect

 

[Jono]

LMFAO @ Harmison's response. He may be ****, but like Richard said, both Boycott and Harmy were right in their statements.

I particularly liked:

For the fact is that within the England dressing room his views are regarded as a joke. People who only have a passing interest in the game hear the famous Boycott Yorkshire accent and may think it gives some status to his opinions.

But inside the dressing room he has no status, he is just an accent, some sort of caricature of a professional Yorkshireman.

 

[Goughy]

Boycott basically said that Harmison has been disappointing and that people were fed up waiting and maybe Harmison needs to go back to County cricket and there is the possibility he may never reach his expected potential in Tests.

Hardly anything controversial there and nothing demanding the type of response Harmison gave.

Interestingly, Harmison attacked the man rather than the comments as he has no ammunition in that area. Hard to argue against something when its right. Far easier to abuse the person saying it.

Piss weak effort from Harmison.