"We sent a basketball team" - Steve Harmison recalls England's squad for 2013-14 Ashes series
Former England seamer Steve Harmison has recalled their dreadful Ashes tour of 2013-14, stating that the selectors sent a basketball team to Australia. Harmison opined that England have hardly turned up in their last few tours of Australia.
Having won three Ashes series on the trot from 2009 to 2013, England came into the 2013-14 leg with some optimism. However, Australia wrecked them, led by Mitchell Johnson's 37 scalps in five Tests as England lost 5-0. The likes of James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Chris Tremlett and Boyd Rankin were no match for the hosts' pace-bowling unit.
Speaking to The Daily Mail, Steve Harmison stated that their bowling struggles and fitness have been the main reason behind their consistently poor performance in Australia. He said:
"There’s only excitement if England turn up, and that’s the biggest problem we’ve had many times in Australia. In my first Ashes series in 2002-03, we seemed to take everybody that had ever bowled in first-class cricket, and then they all got injured. In 2006-07, we didn’t have anywhere near a good enough attack to take 20 wickets against that great Australian side. And in 2013-14, we sent a basketball team. They were never fit."
England last won a Test Down Under in 2011 and have lost by margins of 5-0, 4-0 and 4-0 in their last three visits. The Englishmen have not held the urn since 2015.
"Was probably the right thing" - Steve Harmison on James Anderson retiring
Harmison also feels the retirements of Broad and Anderson have left England with several pace-bowling and strike bowling options. The former Durham pacer reckons it will keep them in good stead for the Australia tour, adding:
"When we get to Australia, we’ve got to have six, seven, eight fast bowlers who, at any given time, can perform at a good level. They need pace, bounce and some Test match experience under their belt. And that’s why I think the Anderson retirement, as much as it’s hard for Jimmy, was probably the right thing."
"He and Stuart Broad were champions. They were always fit and set the standard. But now the two greats have gone, we’re seeing there are options out there. You’re almost playing more strike bowlers in one game than we have in 20 years."
The Ashes series in 2025 begins on November 21 in Perth.