Harmison to retire after Ashes

October 12th, 2009 LONDON - England team will not fall into the same Ashes trap that snared Michael Vaughan's men four years ago, claims current skipper Andrew Strauss. Recalling the Ashes glory over Australia in 2005, which was celebrated long and hard for weeks, Strauss said that it was followed by a massive fall from grace in which Vaughan's side lost 11 Tests out of 14 away from home and, rather than fulfil their dream of being the world's No.1 side they dropped down the ranks like a brick.

October 10th, 2009 LONDON - England fast bowler Steve Harmison has agreed a new four-year contract with Durham worth around 600,000 pounds. The move shows that Harmison, axed by England from this winter tour to South Africa, has no thoughts of retirement.

October 9th, 2009 LONDON - Steve Harmison's dumping from England's South African tour has renewed the row over his announcement last month that he would retire from international cricket if he was not selected for the tour. Last month, the fast bowler had warned that he did not want to wind down his England career as a "bit-part player" and spend 10 weeks on the Cape as a senior water carrier.

September 30th, 2009 LONDON - Ashes hero Andrew Flintoff has said that Steve Harmison is the man to spearhead England's Test side following his own retirement. Durham ace Harmison has been mulling over his international future this summer after being denied a central contract.

September 15th, 2009 LONDON - England fast bowler Graham Onions believes teammate Steve Harmison should continue with his international career. Harmison is still mulling over his Test future, after missing out on an ECB central contract last week.

August 27th, 2009 LONDON - England fast bowler Steve Harmison has admitted he may have played his last Ashes Test. "I'd love to go to Australia.

August 25th, 2009 LONDON - England fast bowler Stephen Harmison has said that he will gladly continue his international career for as long as he is wanted. But the 30-year-old Durham pacer is equally prepared for the selectors telling him his time as a Test bowler is over.

August 25th, 2009 LONDON - England cricketer Graeme Swann, who took the last Australian wicket to clinch the Ashes, has said that he has never experienced anything like the surge of emotion and happiness he felt after winning the Ashes. Swann said that he would cherish the day and the experience for rest of his life, as he has seen all the phases in his career and the experience on the final day at The Oval beats it all.

August 3rd, 2009 WARWICKSHIRE - England fast bowler Steve Harmison has given formal notice that he intends to bowl on in the hope of a Test recall, contrary to reports that he plans to retire at the end of the current Ashes series. "I have no intention of retiring from Test cricket.

July 26th, 2009 LONDON - England's cricket selectors are likely to confirm Ian Bell as injured Kevin Pietersen's replacement for the third Ashes Test that gets underway from Thursday (July 30), even as rumors are afloat that fast bowler Steve Harmison is set to announce his retirement from international crcket after this year's Ashes series. Though Harmison and Monty Panesar are in all likelihood to be retained in the national squad, the Daily Mirror reports that Harmison will announce his international retirement after the Ashes.

July 26th, 2009 LONDON - Andrew Flintoff has been retained while Ian Bell replaces Kevin Pietersen in the England squad for the third Ashes Test against Australia starting Thursday at Edgbaston. Flintoff, who will retire after the series, is battling a knee injury while Pietersen has been ruled out of the series after he underwent a surgery on his Achilles tendon.

July 25th, 2009 LONDON - England captain Andrew Strauss will have the option to reshape the bowling attack for the third Ashes Test at Edgbaston, despite the fact that the pitch could be woefully under-prepared. Many believe Steve Harmison should be in the team anyway, the cannon ball to Andrew Flintoff's medieval mace.

July 15th, 2009 LONDON - Australian opener Phillip Hughes has said that he is eyeing off another showdown with giant England quick Steve Harmison, who has been drafted into the host squad for the second Test, beginning at Lord's tomorrow. Harmison twice bounced out Hughes in a tour match at Worcester and England insists the 20-year-old opener has a clear weakness against extreme bounce.

July 13th, 2009 LONDON - Former Australian fast bowler Jason Gillespie has joined the chorus to bring back Steve Harmison in the England side for the second Ashes Test at Lord's starting Thursday. Gillespie feels that Harmison is peaking at the right time and can cause problems for the Australian batsmen at Lord's, where the visitor's have not lost a Test since 1934.

July 3rd, 2009 WORCESTER - Fast bowler Steve Harmison has warned that England's quicks plan to target the body of young Australian batting sensation Phillip Hughes during the Ashes series. Harmison may not be in the England attack but he was happy to furnish fast-bowling colleagues such as Stuart Broad and James Anderson with information about the Australians, and in particular, their new opening batsman.