Steve Harmison, speaking on talkSport’s Following On podcast, recalled an instance when he “lost it” during a university game in Durham, angrily peppering the opposition’s No.10 with a barrage of short balls under fading light.
“I lost it once in a game against Durham University – believe it or not – against students,” Harmison said. “It was pitch black, it was dark. They were nine down, end of that year, I am thinking it’s about minus two in Durham – I don’t even think it was April. It was March.
“I think Neil Mallender was the umpire and he offered the batsmen the light to go off, Nos.10 and 11. There was a kid from Kent, Rob Ferley, at the non-striker’s end, (he) said “No, no. We’ll stay on.”
Harmison, who took 458 wickets for Durham during his 16-year-long first-class career for the side, couldn’t believe his ears when the batsmen said he’d decided to stay put under the fading light.
“It was the first time I bowled with a jumper on. A long-sleeved jumper on, oh dear. Jumper came off. I bowled six bouncers at this poor No.10, I can’t remember his name, while Ferley stayed at the non-striker’s end. We’ve gone and bowled another over, come back down, I’ve got Ferley at my end. He looked at the umpire, asked for the light and walked off. I was seething! I was seething!”
“I must admit. Couple of pints, I controlled myself to get myself ready to bowl the next day.”
