EVEN today, David Boon revels in his reputation as the scourge of English cricket.

Some nine years after the end of his Test career, the barrel-chested batsman still delights in having hit the winning Ashes runs in 1989, beginning an unbroken streak of Australian success that will be challenged again this summer.

But, while the enigmatic Tasmanian is the archetypal Pom-bashing Aussie, he could yet go down in history as the man who brought his country's unprecedented winning run to an end.

Later today, England will take to the field against Bangladesh to begin a summer campaign that will reach a crescendo when Australia arrive for a five-Test series, barely disguised as a battle to be named world number one.

Within their ranks will be the one player the Australians fear more than anyone else. Over the last 18 months, Steve Harmison has established himself as one of the foremost fast bowlers in the world. His 61 Test wickets last summer helped England win a record-equalling seven successive games against New Zealand and the West Indies and took him to number one in the world rankings.

Yet, without Boon's influence, Harmison might not have been playing professional cricket at all. When the Australian legend arrived to captain Durham in 1997, Harmison was still reeling from an unsuccessful England Under-19 tour of Pakistan.

His confidence shattered and his dreams torn to shreds, the gangly youngster was ready to turn his back on the game when the new skipper crossed his path.

"The guys got him in for a bowl and I went along to watch," Boon recalled. "He was on his own - it wasn't a pre-season net.

"They didn't even let him bowl at anyone.

"They were just trying to get him back, under relaxed circumstances, without anyone around. I stood a little away at the start, then quickly moved to have a closer look.

"Basically, I watched about three balls and went: 'Oh Jesus!' I just went to him and said: 'That's enough for me. Can you get yourself fit to play?' And that was it.

"He was tall, he had pace, he was a bit gangly. He reminded me of some of the West Indians - big guys who run in with long levers and long arms.

"He was a bit wayward but that didn't bother me. For us to have someone like him at Durham, hopefully to put the wind up a few people, would be a fantastic asset.

"It went from there."

Boon quickly became Harmison's mentor, coaxing his development as a person as much as nurturing him as a cricketer.

The Australian was an unorthodox figure himself - he is famously alleged to have drunk 52 cans of a lager on a flight from Australia to England - and, in the awkward youngster from Ashington, he saw a similarly complex character.

Harmison has attracted all kinds of brickbats during his cricketing career, with critics variously accusing him of homesickness, a lack of passion or a lack of heart.

Boon refutes all of those suggestions, although he accepts that the 26-year-old needs constant care if he is to perform at his best.

"I would totally disagree with anybody who says he is weak," he said.

"I think the key to his success, for Durham and England, is the belief that people have confidence in him.

"Even if you have a gut feeling that someone can play, it is not often that they will succeed straight away. You have to give them time. That was the case with Harmy.

"In Test cricket, England, for the first time in a while, gave someone an opportunity to settle in.

"They kept with him even though he was bowling short because they saw a talent.

"It can take one little performance, one shot as a batsman or one ball as a bowler, and all of a sudden it all clicks."

It has certainly clicked now, with Harmison expected to run riot during the forthcoming series with Bangladesh before spearheading England's attempts to recapture the Ashes.

The Ashington-born paceman, with his best years ahead of him, has the world at his feet.

But, no matter what he does in the future, few achievements will trump watching an unreconstructed Aussie glow with fatherly pride.

"I feel proud of having been part of his career," glowed Boon. "I think he is fantastic.

"How good can he get? That's like asking how long is a piece of string.

"Anyone can be as good as they want to be if they put the work in, and that target is probably unlimited.

"He's young enough. I think he could be England's premier fast bowler for quite some time to come."

* Extracted from 'Fast Work: The Rise of Steve Harmison' by Tony Lawrence, published today by First Stone Publishing, price £8.99.

* An exclusive interview with Steve Harmison will appear in The Northern Echo's supplement to mark the Riverside Test with Bangladesh on Friday, June 3.