Harvey Needs To Step Up

The Sunday Age

Sunday October 24, 2004

Brendan McArdle

Crunch time has arrived for Victorian all-rounder Ian Harvey. His career may not yet be at crisis point, but he needs to start posting a few significant figures for the Bushrangers to pacify some restless natives.

Having known and coached Ian at club level since he arrived from Wonthaggi as an impish 15-year-old, objectively assessing his game sometimes has been difficult. But there is certainly a perception in some Victorian circles that he is underachieving.

Victoria's loss in Adelaide last week won't have helped. There were some mixed messages for him in the game plan: on one hand, he batted at No. 7 behind Andrew McDonald, on the other, he took the new ball before Mick Lewis. The team contained three all-rounders, and soon Cameron White returns from India.

The issue is clouded by Harvey's status as an Australian player. He has played 73 one-day internationals, was part of the most recent World Cup campaign and of Australia's one-day squad at the Champions Trophy in September.

Yet his international prospects are under threat. A new breed is being ushered into Australian cricket in the forms of Michael Clarke, Shane Watson and White, while Andrew Symonds, once a competitor with Harvey for the all-rounder's spot, is now such a dominant batsman at that level that he is an automatic selection.

The problem for Harvey, as we've seen in the cases of Clarke and Symonds in the past, is that state performances invariably suffer when constant international call-ups occur.

Although Harvey's contribution to a team is always more encompassing than mere statistics might reflect, his overall record for Victoria is a good one. In 69 matches, he's made more than 3600 runs at a highly commendable average (for an all-rounder) of 33 and he's taken 161 wickets. He catches well and is an unselfish team man who is prepared to bat or bowl anywhere.

He has a dressing-room presence that has endeared him to a succession of captains.

But there are definite concerns about his game of late. He has scored only three first-class half-centuries in his past 12 months of cricket for Victoria and Yorkshire. Like a few of the Victorians in Adelaide, he struggled with Shaun Tait's pace.

And at the age of 32, after six successive years of county, interstate and international duty, injuries are starting to play their part.

He needs a big innings and time in the middle, and certainly his 21/2 hours in making 32 last Tuesday is a step in the right direction.

If his opportunities for Australia become limited, so be it. It's time he put a season together, just as fellow all-rounder Jon Moss did last year.

It might be the catalyst the Bushrangers need.

© 2004 The Sunday Age

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