England fast bowler, 2005 Ashes hero, and the Ashington giant with the ball of the century
CricketOn a grey morning at Lord's in 2005, Steve Harmison thundered in and hit Justin Langer on the elbow with the first ball of the series. The tone of the most famous Ashes summer in a generation was set in a single delivery.
A towering fast bowler from Ashington in Northumberland, Harmison played 63 Tests and 58 ODIs for England between 2002 and 2009, taking 226 Test wickets. At his peak he was briefly ranked the number one bowler in the world, a position earned in the Caribbean with a spell of seven for 12 against West Indies in Jamaica that remains one of the most brutal short-format bursts any English seamer has produced.
The 2005 Ashes made him a household name, but Harmison's career was as much about his friendships as his figures. His bond with Andrew Flintoff defined the England attack of that era. The famous image from Edgbaston, Flintoff consoling Brett Lee, almost didn't happen without Harmison hitting Lee first. He was also one of the first high-profile cricketers to speak publicly about homesickness and the mental toll of tours, long before the sport caught up with him.
Since retiring he has moved into coaching, broadcasting and punditry, and remains a fixture at Durham, the county he served throughout his first-class career. On stage he is one of the most approachable former England cricketers, disarmingly honest about his own highs and lows.
Two decades of world class speakers in the basement at EC3. Want to book Steve Harmison or someone like them? Tell us what you need and we will come back with a plan.
Start an enquiry