LONDON: Stephen Harmison (pictured), the former England paceman who has failed to make a single fist-class appearance in Durham’s title-winning year, announced his retirement yesterday.
The 34-year-old, who took 226 Test wickets for his country, told regional newspaper Sunday Sun that he had “known for a while” that he would be calling it a day at the end of the 2013 season.
“Today I am announcing my retirement from professional cricket,” Harmison said.
“I was hoping to go out on a high in my benefit year but my body has not allowed me to, and I have not made a single first-team appearance.
“With my contract up at the end of the season, I have known for a while I would be calling it a day.”
Harmison’s retirement follows on from that of Matthew Hoggard last month, meaning all four of England’s feared pace attack from the 2005 Ashes have now called time on their careers to some extent.
Simon Jones is to remain as a Twenty20 specialist, while Andrew Flintoff retired in 2010.
It was while in an England shirt and specifically while bowling with the likes of Flintoff and Hoggard that Harmison made his name. AFP
