Holding gives Harmison thumbs-up on remedial bowling work
by CricketArchive staff reporter
DateLine: 30th November 2006
West Indies' bowling great Michael Holding believes Steve Harmison is
back on track to play a major role for England in the Ashes Test series
in Australia.
Harmison rediscovered the rhythm in the Adelaide Oval nets Wednesday he
was so badly lacking in the Ashes opener in Brisbane, where his
blow-out left him demoralized and cost his side any chance of winning
the Gabba Test.
Holding, one of Test cricket's most intimidating fast bowlers in his
prime with 249 wickets in 60 Tests, watched Harmison's work-out in the
nets. He has faith the Durham speedster can iron out a slight technical
glitch that contributed to him imploding in Brisbane.
"From what I have seen I don't think there's a major problem," Holding
said Wednesday. "There's just a slight problem that he's having with
leaning away at the point of delivery and once you start leaning away,
it means you're pushing (wide) the ball instead of driving it from
behind, and as soon as he sorts that out he'll be okay. As a fast
bowler, as a cricketer, as a sportsman you develop some bad habits
along the way and you need some expert to help sort those bad habits
out," he said.
But Holding, who was known as 'Whispering Death' for his smooth yet
hostile bowling action, said England's best hope of levelling the
series had to transfer his improvement out to the middle.
"Nets are different from out in the middle," he said. "This is just
getting some confidence back."
Harmison has told teammates he is on the mend after working out the
technical flaws that bedevilled him in Brisbane.
"He's in a good mood," new-ball bowling partner Matthew Hoggard said
Wednesday. "Obviously, when you're bowling well in the nets and you're
bowling well, you know yourself when the ball comes out if it's feeling
good or if it's not. He says it's feeling good so hopefully you see a
different Steve Harmison in Adelaide. He's hitting the bat hard, and
he's telling me he knows where it's going. He's feeling good and he's
feeling that everything's coming out well, so I've got full
confidence."
