Steve Harmison is just barely recognisable these days. The 6'4" former fast-medium bowler is back in India, though this time with a bit more weight on and a commentary mic replacing the red ball in his hand. And, like most people in the English cricketing fraternity, he, too, is disturbed by the dismal campaign of the defending champions. THE WEEK caught up with him at the Star Sports studio for an interview on all things cricket, especially England's slide at the World Cup. Excerpts:
Q/ So, what went wrong with England?
A/ I don't even know. England have won one game in the first six; no one saw that coming. They have a group of world-class players who have unfortunately found a lack of confidence and form at the same time. [The squad has] eight players who played the previous World Cup final. But in 2019, the players were at the peak of their powers and the average age was probably 33 or 34. This tells you that they are getting older and things just haven't happened for England.
Q/ Surely they would have made plans on how to defend the title?
A/ Oh yes, plans would have been well thought out. I think that is well drilled into the group. They have the experience to understand what it takes to play in big tournaments. But, for whatever reason, nobody can put a finger on what has happened. The top order hasn't fired, the bowlers haven't been consistent enough, which is a surprise. It is one of those unfortunate periods when everything seems to have gone wrong at the same time.
Q/ Couldn't they have arrested the slide?
ãã®èšäºã¯ THE WEEK India ã® November 12, 2023 çã«æ²èŒãããŠããŸãã
7 æ¥éã® Magzter GOLD ç¡æãã©ã€ã¢ã«ãéå§ããŠãäœåãã®å³éžããããã¬ãã¢ã ã¹ããŒãªãŒã9,000 以äžã®éèªãæ°èã«ã¢ã¯ã»ã¹ããŠãã ããã
ãã§ã«è³Œèªè ã§ã ?  ãµã€ã³ã€ã³
ãã®èšäºã¯ THE WEEK India ã® November 12, 2023 çã«æ²èŒãããŠããŸãã
7 æ¥éã® Magzter GOLD ç¡æãã©ã€ã¢ã«ãéå§ããŠãäœåãã®å³éžããããã¬ãã¢ã ã¹ããŒãªãŒã9,000 以äžã®éèªãæ°èã«ã¢ã¯ã»ã¹ããŠãã ããã
ãã§ã«è³Œèªè ã§ã? ãµã€ã³ã€ã³
What Will It Take To Clean Up Delhi Air?
IT IS ASKED, year after year, why Delhiâs air remains unbreathable despite several interventions to reduce pollution.
Trump and the crisis of liberalism
Although Donald Trump's election to a non-consecutive second term to the US presidency is not unprecedentedâGrover Cleveland had done it in 1893âit is nevertheless a watershed moment.
Men eye the woman's purse
A couple of months ago, I chanced upon a young 20-something man at my gym walking out with a womenâs sling bag.
When trees hold hands
A filmmaker explores the human-nature connect through the living root bridges
Ms Gee & Gen Z
The vibrant Anuja Chauhan and her daughter Nayantara on the generational gap in romance writing
Vikram Seth-a suitable man
Our golden boy of literature was the star attraction at the recent Shillong Literary Festival in mysterious Meghalaya.
Superman bites the dust
When my granddaughter Kim was about three, I often took her to play in a nearby park.
OLD MAN AND THE SEA
Meet G. Govinda Menon, the 102-year-old engineer who had a key role in surveying the Vizhinjam coast in the 1940s, assessing its potential for an international port
Managing volatility: smarter equity choices in uncertain markets
THE INDIAN STOCK MARKET has delivered a strong 11 per cent CAGR over the past decade, with positive returns for eight straight years.
Investing in actively managed low-volatility portfolios keeps risks at bay
AFTER A ROARING bull market over the past year, equity markets in the recent months have gone into a correction mode as FIIs go on a selling spree. Volatility has risen and investment returns are hurt.
