Biography

In every sport, there is always a particular trademark trick which comes noticeable as the player moves up the rank. For Ian Harvey, in spite of having one of the most cunning slower deliveries in the business could never shine in the spotlight which he rightfully deserves.

Harvey inaugurated his first-class cricket with Victoria in the Sheffield Shield in 1993. He went on to make his debut for Australia in the ODI outfit in 1997. A life of sorts came to his hands as a replacement, when he was drafted into the team for the 2003 World Cup, in place of injured Shane Watson. Though he could never make it big, he took seven wickets in his first two group matches. The rest of the performances weren't note-worthy.

“Harvs” was the epicenter of Gloucestershire from 1999-2003. He was one of those cricketers who possessed talent which can neither be cultivated, nor taught, just practiced. His short bouncers, dippy off-cutters and his most prolific slower deliveries, made him a cult figure in the English audience, but unfortunately his talents were not much appreciated in his home country, Australia. He became the first T20 centurion in 2003 and clubbed two more of them overall.

Picked up as a Twenty20 specialist to play for the Hampshire Hawks in 2008 and the Northamptonshire Steelbacks in 2009, 'Freak' a nickname for him when he was 14, finally moved to Zimbabwe in 2010, where he played first class and T20 for the Southern Rocks.