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Harmison labels Boycott a 'waste of space' in war of words

23/03/2008

England bowler Steve Harmison has launched a scathing attack on controversial pundit Geoff Boycott.

Former batsman Boycott has been a vocal critic of Harmison's displays with the ball since the 2005 Ashes.

The Durham paceman was axed from the England side for the second and third Tests against New Zealand, after taking just one wicket in the opening Test defeat.

In his newspaper column, Boycott said if the 29-year-old gets a central contract this summer it would a "total waste of money".

A furious Harmison has hit back today by branding Boycott, 67, a "waste of space".

"No one can dispute the man could bat but over the years he has developed an equally well-deserved reputation as someone who thrives on kicking a man when he is down... Enough is enough", Harmison wrote in his Mail on Sunday column.

"People who only have a passing interest in the game hear the famous Geoff Boycott Yorkshire accent and may think it gives some status to his opinions.

"But inside the dressing room he has no status, he is just an accent, some sort of caricature of a professional Yorkshireman."

He added: "[England batsmen's] experience was that when things weren't going well for them all they heard from Boycott was him nailing them in the newspapers or on radio or TV, then, if they made a century or played well, he would come up to them full of compliments and try to ingratiate himself with them."