Harmison Vows to Bounce Back for England

The England fast bowler Steve Harmison compared himself yesterday to two other embattled north-east sportsmen - Michael Owen and Jonny Wilkinson - as he vowed to prove to his critics that he still has an international future.

Harmison was dropped for the last two Tests of England's New Zealand tour after joining the trip late so he could be present at the birth of his fourth child, and he was widely criticized for showing more of the baffling inconsistency that has bedeviled his career.

But yesterday he struck a defiant tone as Durham prepared for the new season. They start their season against Yorkshire in the Friends Provident Trophy on Sunday. "We have a culture in England that kicks people when they are down," he said. "There are two people in the north-east, Michael Owen and Jonny Wilkinson, who have had a horrendous time. Seeing them come back spurs you on."

Harmison is anxious to make an immediate impression in Sunday's match, which will be screened live by Sky Sports. He said he will have his "chance in front of the whole nation". And, warming to the theme, he later suggested "the world will be watching". County cricket must be in for a renaissance.

He accepted that his form has dipped at a time when, at 29, he should be at his peak. "I am under no illusions that I have taken a step back in the last 18 months. In the past 10 months I have had only a handful of games and most of them have been in Test matches.

"Criticism just goes with the job. People like to have a pop at me but I've got broad shoulders and I'll take it on the chin. People are sticking their fifty pence in every day but I am sure that down the line it will be someone else's turn. There is only one way I can answer it and that is by performance.

"I will never apologize for staying behind for the birth of my son. It hasn't cost me my England place. I just didn't bowl very well when I arrived. I don't think it will happen again because I've already got four children, but if it did then I would stay at home again. There are some things worth missing cricket for and seeing a child into the world is one of them."

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