Fit-again Harvey raring to go
Ian Harvey's performances have been central to Northants' success, which he hopes will continue into finals day
Ian Harvey may have been struck down with swine flu in the run-up to Twenty20 Cup finals day - but that will not stop the irrepressible Australian from trying to end Northamptonshire's trophy drought at Edgbaston.
The 37-year-old former Australia all-rounder, a cricketer ready-made for the Twenty20 era, was the star of the Steelbacks' charge to the quarter-finals, before contracting the virus ahead of their quarter-final victory over Hampshire on July 30.
Harvey has recovered from his illness to resume his place at the top of the order - and in the light of seeing Northants defend 134 to beat Hampshire, believes the outsiders can spring a surprise over Sussex and go on to lift their first major trophy since 1992.
"Northants believe they can win from any position," Harvey told ecb.co.uk. "Their strength is the ability to get themselves into winning positions with the ball, and holding on to that.
"It doesn't matter what total they have put on the board. When they walk out on to the field, they know they have the players to keep the opposition to a low total.
"It must be frustrating and a bit disappointing for the county not to have won a trophy for so long.
"I was in bed for a few days but that's all done and dusted. I'm fine now and ready to make a difference if I can."
Even if Northamptonshire triumph in Birmingham tomorrow, Harvey will probably always be remembered in this country as the outstanding Gloucestershire overseas player, who helped that unfashionable county to a raft of one-day trophies at the turn of the millennium.
Harvey claims to relish the unique pressures of Twenty20 cricket - and bowling at the death in particular
But the Victorian maintains the abilities that earned him the nickname 'Freak', with his slower balls and clever hitting, remain much the same in this new era of Twenty20.
"I've always enjoyed bowling at the death before, so it's not a problem for me," he added.
"The one thing Twenty20 has done is make all your bowlers capable of bowling at the death as well. We've had to come up with new plans and field settings and that's great for cricket.
"I don't go badgering the captain (Nicky Boje) to bowl all the time. I've just left it up to him; he's an experienced player and captain.
"I can't bowl quite how I used to, and there have been games that I've not needed to bowl at all - that shows the options we have with the ball."
