Steve Harmison proud to be a part of the Chennai Test in 2008

Former England international Steve Harmison was an integral part of the English side that flew to India after the 2008 terror attacks feel proud to have done the same. The tall and fiery bowler gives us a summary of the whole situation and the experience of being a part of the Chennai Test in 2008.

Harmison said he watched the horrifying incident take place on TV with teammates Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff. According to Harmison, they could not believe that this was the same Taj Hotel they were sheltered at two weeks before. Harmison and his mates were left in shock as they saw the bodies lying in front of the Taj Palace and people getting killed. They could not believe that those were the same rooms they stayed in where the brutal murders were taking place.

“Me, Andrew Flintoff, and Kevin Pietersen were watching the terrible events unfold. There were bodies lying in the road in front of the famous Taj Palace hotel, and the building itself was ablaze. Gunshots could be heard as the terrorists went through the rooms killing guests. ‘Chilling’ doesn’t even begin to describe it – this was the same hotel we’d stayed in two weeks before. Those rooms where people were being slain as they cowered in corners were the same ones we’d stayed in.” said Harmison, who was once compared to the great Curtly Ambrose.

Harmison pointed out that they could almost imagine where the innocent crowd inside the hotel would try to hide. They also wondered whether the staffs who were at their service a few days ago were already dead or not. The bowler also saw the gym where they trained get destroyed by the rampant firing of bullets. The English cricketers also got the news that their favourite chef in the restaurant, a big tall Japanese guy, who cooked for them had already lost his life.

“I could imagine in my head where people, desperate, terrified, would be trying to hide. I could see the layout – bed, wardrobe, bathroom, shower. Someone was in there now, either already dead or trying to hide themselves, their family, their children, and realizing the hopelessness of the situation. The gunmen had rampaged through the restaurants where we’d eaten and set fire to the gym where we trained. People we knew – the manager, chefs, all kinds of people, would undoubtedly be dead. What had happened to the staff who’d served us when we were up on the roof in the bar having a drink and something to eat? We were getting word that the big tall chef in the Japanese restaurant we liked, who would cook our dinner in front of us, was dead.” added Harmison.

Harmison was left in awe on seeing the inhumanity of the terrorists and explaining the cruelty of the act he said “All across Mumbai, terrorists were killing people with random brutality. I felt sick. We all did. We couldn’t move from in front of the TV for the sheer shock of it all. The message coming from the top brass was that the tour should go on, otherwise they would be liable to a compensation claim from the Indians. If anything epitomizes the gulf between the suits at Lord’s and the players, it is that. Unbelievable. We were high profile targets, and all they could think about was money.”

On the safety of the players:

Harmison mentioned that the team went back home immediately and later moved to Abu Dhabi for a holding camp. The scheduled Tests were moved from Mumbai and Ahmedabad to Chennai and Mohali. Harmison also had a chat with security expert Reg Dickinson who stayed in India for a while to enquire about the situation and the safety of the players. It was with his consent that the England team decided to fly back again to India to play the Tests.

”Eventually, the players flew home, and then on to a holding camp in Abu Dhabi before the first Test in Chennai – the two Tests were moved from Ahmedabad and Mumbai to Chennai and Mohali, then – Captain Kevin Pietersen reiterating that a decision on whether to return to India would be left down to individuals. I put my trust in Reg Dickinson, our security expert, who was still in India finding out what was happening. When he came to Abu Dhabi, I had a good chat with him on my own. I asked him outright, ‘Is it all right to be going back?’ When he looked me in the eyes and said, ‘Yes, it’ll be fine,’, that’s all I needed to hear. I trusted Reg implicitly. From that point on, it was a simple decision for me – we go.”