Harmison gets Benkenstein backing

13 August 2008

Kevin Pietersen wants Steve Harmison to make himself available for one-day cricket

Durham captain Dale Benkenstein believes England will reap the benefits if Steve Harmison comes out of retirement from one-day international cricket.

The pace bowler has not played for England in the shorter form of the game since the Champions Trophy in India almost two years ago, after which he made himself unavailable for limited-overs cricket at the age of 29.

Harmison’s successful return to the Test side in the final npower Test triumph over South Africa provided a timely reminder of his worth the ball, and new England captain Kevin Pietersen revealed that he asked him to reconsider his decision this week.

It is a view endorsed by Benkenstein, who has overseen Harmison’s rehabilitation during a prolific summer on the domestic circuit.

He said: “I think they need him desperately in one-day cricket, especially in the last couple of overs of the powerplays and then going through the middle period where guys are getting ones and twos.

“If they get in they generally play it how they want it, but he’s the guy who can let you still attack as a captain.

“It would give you a totally different option to a lot of sides - they don’t have that.

“I think he’s got a lot to offer in the one-day set-up, but I’m not sure what his feelings are on that.”

Harmison has not played an ODI since the Champions Trophy defeat by Australia in 2006

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Harmison has come in for criticism in the past for a perceived lack of desire, but Benkenstein paid tribute to his spearhead’s attitude during a season which has yielded 73 wickets at 20 apiece in all domestic cricket.

“I can’t get the ball out of his hands, which is amazing,” said Benkenstein. “Often the plan is to give him three or four (overs); nothing happens, but he gets two wickets in his 13th, which is just amazing credit to him.

“A lot of guys have maybe questioned his heart or whatever - when the team’s needed him and he’s either been a bit off the boil, or just maybe a lack of confidence at times.

“But when it comes to major situations against really good players, he wants to be involved.

“He’s never shied out of any competition. He really backs himself, which is something you can’t coach or teach.”