Harmison: Hussain's advice saved my career

Steve Harmison, who endured a nervy start to his international career during this winter's Ashes, has thanked Nasser Hussain for his advice and support at critical moments.

"I can't thank him enough for the way he handled a young fast bowler who could have gone to pieces," Harmison, 24, told Tuesday's edition of the Daily Mirror. "One or two ex-players have criticised Nasser for nagging his bowlers too much, but his handling of the situation was brilliant. He's never told me where to bowl. All he does is offer you encouragement."

One of those ex-players-turned-critics was Ian Botham, a columnist for the same paper, who had slammed Hussain's frequent interventions from mid-off, saying they were a hindrance rather than a help to the bowlers. For Harmison, however, it was the more advice the merrier.

"For me the biggest issue was easily the Perth Test," said Harmison, "where I lost my run-up completely on the second morning and Nasser helped me through the crisis. That was the first time in my life I have thought 'Please don't throw me the ball, I don't want to bowl' - but his encouragement was priceless. I was struggling, but he refused to take me off. He just said: 'Keep going, you'll get it back' and tried to take my mind off it."

Harmison's tour had already begun in embarrassing fashion when he sent down seven successive wides in the opening match at Lilac Hill. He was left out of the team for the first Test at Brisbane, but when Simon Jones sustained a dreadful cruciate ligament injury, Harmison was given his opportunity, and eventually finished the series with nine wickets at 50 apiece.

Against Zimbabwe, in last month's innings-and-92-run victory at Lord's, Harmison was markedly less wayward than before, finishing with match figures of 3 for 71 from 28 overs.