The rise and fall of Harmison
Steve Harmison, dubbed "Nasser Hussain's white West Indian" by Steve Waugh during the 2002-03 Ashes tour, remains the only England bowler to top the ICC's Test bowling rankings since the system was established in 1987 and before the ratings were
Akhila Ranganna
25-Feb-2013
Steve Harmison, dubbed "Nasser Hussain's white West Indian" by Steve Waugh during the 2002-03 Ashes tour, remains the only England bowler to top the ICC's Test bowling rankings since the system was established in 1987 and before the ratings were applied retrospectively to mark every player in Test history. He provided of great moments before his sudden decline writes Rob Bagchi in the Guardian.
And yet for all England's success without him there is a sense of waste. Courtney Walsh took 297 Test wickets after his 32nd birthday, Sir Richard Hadlee 252, Glenn McGrath 186 and Curtley Ambrose, the bowler Harmison at his best most resembled, 147. He said last year that if his England career was over, he at least had the memories. So have we, Steve. So have we.
Akhila Ranganna is assistant editor (Audio) at ESPNcricinfo