Shane Harwood      

Full name Shane Michael Harwood

Born March 1, 1974, Ballarat, Victoria

Current age 35 years 268 days

Major teams Australia, Rajasthan Royals, Victoria

Nickname Stickers

Playing role Bowler

Batting style Right-hand bat

Bowling style Right-arm fast-medium

Height 1.83 m

Following an eventful 2006-07 during which he made his Twenty20 international debut, and a quieter and less productive summer in 2007-08, Shane Harwood was back to strong form in 2008-09. He managed only five Sheffield Shield games for 13 wickets - and he played in Victoria's successful final - but he was the leading wicket taker in the FR Cup with 24 at 16.25 and again was a dangerous Twenty20 bowler. That form earned him a surprise limited-overs call-up for Australia in South Africa, where he added two Twenty20s to his resume and at 35 became Australia's third oldest ODI debutant, behind Bob Simpson and Bob Holland. Then followed his IPL debut for the Rajasthan Royals, where he took a wicket with his first ball in the competition and played three matches. It was a happy turnaround from 2007-08, when a serious shoulder injury threatened to derail his domestic campaign before it had started, and a groin problem later in the season continued his awful run with injuries.

The previous summer he claimed 26 Pura Cup wickets at 30.26 and 13 at 16.30 in the domestic one-dayers as his sharp pace and awkward bounce dried up the opposition's runs. The standout moment was undoubtedly his surprise call-up into the Australia team for their Twenty20 match against England in January 2007. There were other highlights: he claimed a career-best 6 for 51 against New South Wales at the MCG and improved his record a month later with 6 for 38 against the same team at Sydney. But four separate health problems interrupted his progress and his propensity for sustaining injuries in unusual fashion continued. He hurt a calf walking down some stairs at the MCG during a match and missed games with a side strain and two separate buttock injuries.

Two years earlier he suffered a broken hand caused by his dog dragging him off his bike, a hamstring problem during a 31-ball ING Cup half-century, a cheekbone shattered by a Kade Harvey bouncer, and finally an eye complaint. In 2005-06 his form was so impressive that Shane Warne, his Victoria team-mate, wanted him chosen for the tour of South Africa, but Harwood had to settle for 30 Pura Cup wickets at 31. He stormed on to the state scene as a 28-year-old in 2002-03 when he became only the third Australian to collect a hat-trick on first-class debut. Playing Tasmania, he knocked over Shane Watson, Graeme Cunningham and Sean Clingeleffer and was soon playing for Australia A. A fan of Rodney Hogg, the former Australia fast man, Harwood would be driving trucks if he wasn't a cricketer.
Cricinfo staff September 2009

May 2, 2009

Shane Harwood celebrates a wicket with his first ball in the IPL

© AFP

Apr 13, 2009

Michael Hussey congratulates Shane Harwood on his first ODI wicket

© AFP

Apr 13, 2009

Shane Harwood rushes to the ball

© AFP

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