High time for the Freak to peak

POTCHEFSTROOM, South Africa, Feb 1 AAP - Ian Harvey is pinching himself.

It's all been a bit of a blur.

Last thing Harvey remembers, he was having a counter lunch in the country Victorian town of Ballarat. The telephone rang. It was Australia's chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns, telling him Shane Watson was out of the World Cup.

Harvey was in.

Now, less than a week later, the 30-year-old allrounder is in South Africa with every chance of taking part in Australia's opening Cup game against Pakistan at the Wanderers in Johannesburg on February 11.

"It's a very exciting time," he said.

"It was unbelievable when Trevor rang me and told me the news. A week ago I wasn't even coming.

"Obviously, what happened to Shane, you don't wish that on anyone. He wished me all the best and said to have a good trip, which really meant a lot. To get an opportunity to come over here and play for your country, if that happens, it's a fantastic opportunity to re-prove yourself."

Harvey needs to re-prove himself.

His last appearance for Australia was a disaster, conceding 35 runs off four overs and making only 14 as South Africa won by 65 runs at Cape Town. He was subsequently overlooked for an indoor series against Pakistan, then missed six weeks at the start of the summer with a hamstring injury.

He was gone as an international. His batting and bowling averages were the wrong way around: 17.87 and 34.59 respectively. Things were bleak for the 'The Freak.' Watson was coming good, but then fate dealt him a cruel blow: a back injury.

Harvey and Watson spoke at length during the Allan Border Medal presentation last Tuesday night. About 36 hours later, Watson sent his replacement a good-luck e-mail before the team's flight to Johannesburg on Thursday. Harvey might be about to play a big part in the biggest one-day tournament of all, or no part. Time will tell.

"Whether I get selected or not for that first game, I've just got to do the best I can," he said.

"I had about six weeks off which was a very disappointing and very frustrating time but at the moment I'm fit, ready to go."

He disagreed with outspoken Victorian coach David Hookes' recent claim that four straight seasons of county cricket, with a fifth coming up, had taken the zip from his medium-pace bowling.

"Hookesy has been fantastic for Victorian cricket, he's a very good speaker and communicates well," said Harvey.

"I did lose a bit after having six weeks off but I've felt over the last couple of games that I've started to get that back again. Hopefully he's just giving me a kick up the bum.

"I don't think playing county has taken a toll at all.

"It's helped my batting, trying to spend more time in the middle. It's helped my bowling as well. I like to get out there and take wickets and be involved all the time ... over there it's helped me be a lot more patient, bowl line and length and take wickets in a different way, by being patient, instead of trying to bowl two or three outeys and an inny trying to take a wicket.

"That's how I think it's helped me, but a lot of people may disagree."

What has Hookes advised?

"A bit more consistency with my batting and probably summing up the situation in the middle a bit more, and probably sitting back and enjoying my cricket a lot more," said Harvey.

"That all just comes down to knowing what you can do out in the middle.

"His (Hookes') door is always open. We've had some good chats about cricket and how he thinks it should be played and how he thinks I should play the game. It's been very good - at any time I can go to him or ring him and have a really good chat."

Not as good as the chat he had Hohns.

Australia is having two days off before returning to training on Monday.