FORMER England bowling coach Allan Donald believes Steve Harmison's "fear" of the Test arena may prevent him from returning to the biggest stage. The South African was a key member of England's backroom staff last summer and saw first-hand how the Durham seamer struggled to deal with the pressures of the international game.
In particular, Donald has revealed the nerves that overtook the once-feared paceman during the Test against the West Indies at Old Trafford last June. And he is concerned that those fears, combined with a lack of understanding about just what made H
armison the planet's top bowler, could spell the end.
"I've never seen a bloke as low as Steve was during that Manchester Test against the West Indies," Donald told the Daily Mirror. "When he came off the field he admitted he was dead scared. He was scared of letting the ball go and he soon realised that Michael Vaughan could not turn to him. Sometimes I feel that there is a fear of being on that massive stage. It could be."
Donald added: "Does he know and fully understand how he became the world's No.1 bowler? Or did he just bowl? I had my doubts as to whether Harmy really understood how he had got there. That's why inconsistencies creep in."
• Kent captain Rob Key hopes his side can prove their cup hoodoo is now long behind them after powering into the Friends Provident Trophy final.
Kent ended a 29-year wait for victory in a knockout competition with their success in the Twenty20 Cup last season and Key now has his sights set on more glory. The Spitfires ran out convincing 83-run winners over Durham at the Riverside on Friday to move through to a Lord's decider with Essex or Yorkshire in the domestic game's 50-over competition.
The prolific Martin van Jaarsveld and England aspirant Joe Denly both hit centuries to take the game, and the trophy won so memorably last year, away from the hosts. Key said: "We won the Twenty20 last year and we feel we sort of put that bogey to rest a little bit. You need things to go your way a little bit, and hopefully at Lord's this year we can do it again."
• Uddingston will fly the Scottish banner today as the Cockspur Cup – Britain's most prestigious club tournament – enters the nationwide phase.
The Lanarkshire side head south to face Chester-le-Street in their quest to become the first team from north of the border to reach the final at Lord's.
Uddingston's Scottish Cup quarter- final clash with Heriot's will now be held a fortnight today. The three other ties go ahead as scheduled. Penicuik take on Forfarshire, favourites Greenock square up to Clydesdale and Ferguslie play Prestwick.
The full article contains 480 words and appears in Scotland On Sunday newspaper.
