Marsh wants another ten Harmisons

England cricket Academy director Rod Marsh wants to produce ten fast bowlers of Steve Harmison's class.

17:53 19 October 2004

England cricket Academy director Rod Marsh wants to produce ten fast bowlers of Steve Harmison's class.

Durham bowler Harmison has emerged as the world's best bowler after a blistering season with the ball, producing performances that have helped England win three Test series this year.

With Matthew Hoggard, James Anderson and Simon Jones also picking up wickets at a young age, the future of fast-bowling in England looks in good shape.

But Australian Marsh, who came to England to try to invigorate an ailing team, wants more.

"You need ten fast bowlers in a battery to be a successful nation given that it is fast bowlers that win the majority of matches around the world," he said.

"I believe you need at least ten fast bowlers if you are to be successful at the highest level and we're getting pretty close to ten - they are looking like the best group of fast bowlers in the world.

"They are all the right sort of age as well. Harmison and Simon Jones are around 25 and I think the best years of a fast bowler's life are between 25 and 35 and these guys have not played a lot of cricket, although some people would not agree with that."