Steve Harmison

Harmison made his first-class debut for Durham in 1996. He played an important role in Durham's first County Championship triumph in 2008, taking 60 wickets in that season at an average of 22.66. Harmison observed, "The [2005] Ashes takes some beating, because of the nature of that series win, but behind that, I don't think there is a prouder moment in my career.". Durham took their second title assisted by Harmison the following year. He played his last first-class match during a brief loan period with Yorkshire in 2012.

Initial selection

Steve Harmison was first selected for an England squad in May 2000 during the tour to England by Zimbabwe, but did not play. As part of an ECB National Academy touring team that also contained Andrew Strauss, Ian Bell and Rob Key, Harmison showed clear signs of his ability in the tour of Australia in 2001–02. In August 2002, Harmison made his Test match debut at Trent Bridge against India, replacing the injured Simon Jones. Originally lacking somewhat in control, he bowled seven consecutive wides in the first match of the tour of Australia, against the ACB Chairman's XI's at Lilac Hill in 2002. However, promising performances later in the tour saw him named in the World Cup squad, although he did not take to the field in any of the matches. He was then awarded with a six-month central contract by the ECB, but this was not renewed in September 2003. Despite media complaints about his ability, he was named in the England squad for the winter tour to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, partially due to injuries to other players. Harmison gave a man-of-the-match performance in the opening Test against Bangladesh, taking 9 wickets for 79 on a slow wicket, before succumbing to a back injury and missing the matches against Sri Lanka. Despite the injury, he had done enough to be selected for the winter tour to the West Indies. He took seven wickets at the cost of just 12 runs as the West Indies collapsed to their lowest-ever Test total of 47 all out. Harmison went on…

Harmison was born and brought up in Ashington, Northumberland, and is the eldest of three brothers and one sister. The youngest brother, Ben, latterly played first-class cricket for Kent and also played for his home county Durham. Harmison currently lives in Ashington with his wife Hayley and their three daughters Emily, Abbie and Isabel and son, Charlie. A family man by nature, Harmison admitted to homesickness and missing his family each time the England team went on tour; in an interview with The Independent in 2005, he stated:

"I have a family. I have kids that need me around and they will dictate the decisions I make on my career....My international career will finish when my family needs me to be around a bit more." He still remains a fan of football and is a lifelong supporter of Newcastle United F.C. Harmison has suffered from clinical depression from an early age, but hid it as homesickness during his England career.

As a teenager, Harmison played for his local football club, Ashington A.F.C. and Ashington Hirst Progressive, before deciding to concentrate on cricket.