Harmison recalled by England
Steve Harmison recalled by England for second Test
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Monty Panesar and James Anderson were the unlikely heroes with the bat as England snatched a draw against Australia on the final day at Cardiff. |  |
Monday, 13, Jul 2009 09:31
By Alistair Potter.
Fast bowler Steve Harmison has been recalled to the England Test squad ahead of the second match of the Ashes series against Australia at Lord's this week.
The Durham veteran is included alongside the XI that played in the first Test in Cardiff, alongside 12th man Graham Onions and cover batsman Ian Bell.
The return of Harmison is partly due to concerns over the fitness of all-rounder Andrew Flintoff.
The Lancastrian twisted his knee while fielding at the Swalec Stadium and is due to undergo what ECB national selector Geoff Miller has described as "a precautionary scan" later today.
"Andrew is experiencing soreness and swelling in the knee which he twisted while in the field and he will be reassessed by the medical staff over the next 48 hours leading up to the Test match on Thursday," Miller explained.
"In the event of Andrew being unfit, we see Stephen as a like-for-like replacement in terms of the type of bowler he is and his ability to unsettle the opposition batsmen with pace and bounce.
It remains unclear whether England will again opt for a two-spinner attack with both Monty Panesar and Graeme Swann or include an additional pace option on what could be relatively batting-friendly surface in north London.
And Miller said the England selectors would "consider all our options carefully when we come to determine the make-up of our bowling attack at Lord's".
The final decision will depend on our assessment of the pitch and the likely overhead conditions," he added.
Full 14-man England squad for first Test:
Andrew Strauss (Middlesex, captain)
James Anderson (Lancashire)
Ian Bell (Warwickshire)
Ravi Bopara (Essex)
Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire)
Paul Collingwood (Durham)
Alastair Cook (Essex)
Andrew Flintoff (Lancashire)
Stephen Harmison (Durham)
Graham Onions (Durham)
Monty Panesar (Northamptonshire)
Kevin Pietersen (Hampshire)
Matt Prior (Sussex)
Graeme Swann (Nottinghamshire)