Former England bowler Steve Harmison has explained why bowling at Headingley is extremely difficult for speed bowlers. If a bowler has never bowled at Headingley previously, Harmison believes he may have some difficulties while running in.

Harmison went on to say that if a bowler sprints up the hill, he may have the impression that he never quite makes it to the crease, and so prefers to pull the ball short.

In addition, if a bowler is racing down the hill, he may have the impression that he is constantly one step ahead of his regular pace, and that he can pull the ball down too.

“Headingley is a very difficult place to bowl if you haven’t bowled there. That is because you can run up the hill, and feel as if you never quite get to the crease, and you drag it down, and you bowl too short. On the other hand, you can run down the hill, feel as if you are always half a step ahead of where your rhythm normally is, and you tend to drag it down,” said Harmison.

Shami showed that if you pitch the ball up, then you can cause a few problems: Steve Harmison

Harmison, who is 42 years old, also stated that knowledge is crucial for a bowler while rushing in at Headingley. Harmison believes that bowlers like Mohammed Shami, James Anderson, and Ollie Robinson have bowled at Headingley previously and that they have struck the longer length and had effectiveness.

Mohammed Shami demonstrated that if the ball is pitched up, it may pose issues for the batsman on the Headingley ground, according to Harmison.

“You can see the experience counts. The guys who have played here a lot before, Shami for India, who I think has been the pick of the bowlers from India’s point of view, Anderson from England, Robinson, it is his home ground is used to bowling up and down that slope, hitting that fuller length, because they are the ones that have broken the stumps”.

“I think that is why India has possibly bowled too short. And, Shami showed that if you pitch the ball up, then you can cause a few problems,” concluded Harmison.

England’s scoreboard at the finish of Day 2 displays 423/8, and they dominate India by 345 runs in the 1st innings.