Steve’s happy to focus on Durham duty

May 24 2008 by Luke Edwards, The Journal

STEVE Harmison has shrugged off his continued absence from the England Test squad as he prepares for Durham’s vital back-to-back Friends Provident Trophy games against Scotland and Derbyshire this weekend.

Durham need to win both at the Riverside tomorrow and Bank Holiday Monday to have a chance to qualify for the knockout stage of the competition, but Harmison is confident their defence of the trophy will continue beyond the group stage.

The fast bowler is still easing his way back to full throttle with his county after an injury-plagued 18 months, which climaxed with him being dropped by England during the winter series against New Zealand.

But the signs are encouraging for the Ashington Express, who argued he would rather be allowed to rediscover his best form with Durham than return to the international stage prematurely.

Harmison was overlooked by the England selectors this week when Hampshire’s Chris Tremlett was drafted into the England squad following an injury to Matthew Hoggard, but the 29-year-old did not take it as a snub. “I didn’t read too much into it to be honest,” said Harmison, who has taken 11 First-Class wickets at an average of 22.90 so far this season in Durham colours.

“I want to play for England again and that is my aim, but I’d rather play for Durham and get my consistency back first. I think that is the view the selectors took, although I haven’t spoken to anyone about it.

“Whoever was called up to the squad was unlikely to play as they were always going to stick with the same side they had at Lord’s and if I’m going to be called up and travel down to meet up with the rest of the squad, I’d want to play.

“I’m enjoying playing cricket again and I’m reasonably happy with how things have gone. I’m not quite at my best yet, but I can feel it coming. The ball is coming out well and I think I’ve bowled better with each game.

“I’ve got a few aches and niggles but the body is holding up. I know that if it continues to do that the consistency will come, the big wicket hauls will come and I’ll be back knocking on England’s door again.”

Durham still have a chance to progress to the quarter-finals by finishing in the top two and Harmison believes fighting spirit will see them through.

He said: “The pitches we’ve played on have not been very good for batting and that has weakened our biggest strength, which is our bowling attack, because part-time bowlers have been able to pick up wickets when the ball is moving all over the place off the pitch. But I don’t think it’ll be long before we get a big score with the bat, we’ve got too many good players and when we get a good, true pitch someone is going to suffer. That’s the feeling in the dressing room.

“The great thing about this side is that we always back ourselves. Even when we have not been getting big totals we’ve made a fight of it. We’ve lost two games on the last ball this season against Lancashire and Derbyshire because we refuse to give up. We haven’t been at our best, but we’re still in there with a chance of qualifying.”

Harmison’s best performances this season have come in limited overs cricket, most notably when he picked up the crucial wickets of Mal Loye and Steven Croft in the narrow victory over Lancashire last weekend, but he admitted he has been out-performed by team-mate Graham Onions – who will not play this weekend because of a slight heel injury – in the Championship.

He added: “Graham has been in fantastic form for us this season and he has been our best bowler with the red ball. I don’t mind admitting that, but I’d like to think that he benefits from having me bowling quick and hostile at the other end.

“I think Graham has put in a lot of work over the winter and he is seeing the benefits of that. He has been tremendous for Durham and long may that continue, he’s an excellent bowler.

“I’ve been picking up two and threes and they have been important wickets in our last few games, but I don’t think it is long before those turn in five and six wickets in an innings. You can sense these things sometimes as a bowler.”

DURHAM SQUAD TO PLAY SCOTLAND AND DERBYSHIRE: Michael Di Venuto, Phil Mustard, Kyle Coetzer, Neil McKenzie, Dale Benkenstein (Capt), Ben Harmison, Gareth Breese, Garry Park, Stephen Harmison, Callum Thorp, Mark Davies, Mitchell Claydon.