James Harris stands by his Glamorgan exit ahead of final

  • Published
Simon Jones of Glamorgan commiserates with Dimitri Mascarenhas of HampshireImage source, Getty Images

I will be with my dad in the Long Room at Lord's watching my former club Glamorgan in their first cricket final since 2000 when they take on Nottinghamshire in the Yorkshire Bank 40 on Saturday.

I have one more Championship game with Middlesex, which finishes on Friday, in Yorkshire and I will be straight back to London that night to make sure I am there in the crowd at the home of cricket.

Some of the Glamorgan boys have sent me texts, telling me they will leave tickets for me at Lord's - despite the fact that it's where I now play my cricket for Middlesex.

So, there has been some real banter flying back and forth between Cardiff and London in the last few weeks, but I am thrilled Glamorgan have reached a final and I cannot wait to see them walk out.

When I left Glamorgan at the end of last season I left behind a group of guys who I got on fantastically well with and they have played some really good cricket in the YB40 this season.

People have asked whether I have regrets about leaving Glamorgan now they have reached a final, but I stand by the decision I made and still I believe it was right for my career.

I am very happy at Middlesex and love living in London, but of course I would love to be playing in this final on Saturday.

I was about 10 years old when Glamorgan last reached a final in any competition - the Benson and Hedges Cup in 2000 - and I really have no recollection of it at all.

At around that time my interest in the game had only just begun and I think I had just played my first game of under-11s cricket for Pontarddulais towards the end of 2000 season.

The build-up to this week's final had a really nice twist last week with the news that Nottinghamshire would be allowed to select the England pair of Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann for the final.

They have both been rested for England's one-day series with Australia after a tough and very successful Ashes series and with one eye probably on the return series down under this winter.

Notts have made a real statement about their desire to win silverware and, with the inclusion of two England internationals, they will have their strongest possible team out against Glamorgan.

They obviously hope both guys just slot into the side, but it is going to be tough on a couple of other guys, who have helped them get to the final, being left out of the team.

Ultimately, we all want to see the two best elevens available to both sides, and them really going at each other.

A Lord's final is the perfect way for Simon Jones to bow out of first-class and List A cricket. He has been a fantastic inspiration to me and no doubt loads of aspiring cricketers in Wales.

I can still remember Simon playing for England in that Ashes series in 2005, external, and what an impression he made on me. He inspired me to believe I could have a career in cricket as he played a huge part in England winning that series.

Then I was lucky to have him around at Glamorgan where we spent a lot of time together. He has played a big role in English cricket, but a huge role in Glamorgan and Welsh cricket. When he does decide to retire from all forms of cricket, he will be sorely missed by everybody.

I have one Championship game to go in the season and I am pretty frustrated and annoyed, if I am honest, I have not had the impact I planned on having at Middlesex.

The people here have been fantastic to me and I couldn't have asked for more and the welcome I have had, but I came here to play cricket and I have had a dip in form this season.

I did make some technical changes in a bid to find some form but it has been a frustrating year for me and it never really got going despite my body feeling fresh because of the reduced workload.

I just have to take the break now, work hard in the off-season and make sure I come back and score a lot of runs and take some wickets next time.

Watching Glamorgan win the YB40 at Lord's on Saturday would be a good way to end a disappointing season.

James Harris was talking to BBC Sport's Simon Roberts

Around the BBC

Related internet links

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.