LONDON, July 17: England fast bowler Stephen Harmison was on Tuesday ruled out for the entire Test series against India after suffering a recurrence of a hernia injury. Initial reports on Monday suggested he would only miss the first Test starting at Lord's on Thursday in which his place in England's 13-man squad was filled by Hampshire pace bowler Chris Tremlett.

Confirmation that Durham quick Harmison would miss the three Test series came after it emerged that he required surgery which was due to take place later on Tuesday.

The operation is expected to sideline him for four to six weeks.

Coach Peter Moores confirmed: “He's going to have the operation later today.“Unfortunately for him the hernia has come back and now it's all about getting it done as quickly as possible.”

Harmison first sustained the injury during the final Test against the West Indies at Chester-le-Street nearly a month ago but after tests England's medical staff agreed to let Harmison play on.

But he suffered a recurrence of the problem during Durham's championship match against Sussex at Hove last week and is now set to miss the remainder of England's summer.

Moores defended the decision not to operate on Harmison as soon as the injury was discovered by telling reporters at Lord's on Tuesday: “If we'd operated on him then, the time frame realistically for a sportsman is six weeks plus a couple of weeks to get back and bowl, that really would put him out of the these two Tests so we'd only have him for the last Test.

“It was felt there was a good chance he could manage it but at Sussex he did it fielding, they think.

“The timeframe between the two series, you could say get an injury right, but anybody who'd bowled knows once you've got fit, you've got six weeks of muscle wastage to overcome and building up you've got to get bowling fit before you play.

“Steve's one of those bowlers who needs to bowl. Realistically, it was the right decision.”

Harmison, 28, retired from One-day International cricket last winter so his next international commitment is likely to be England's Test tour to Sri Lanka in December.

In his absence uncapped quicks Stuart Broad and Tremlett, as well as the more experienced James Anderson are vying to fill his place at Lord's.

England's pace attack, with the exception of Matthew Hoggard, is likely to have something of a novice feel about it against India as they are also set to be without fast-bowling all-rounder Andrew Flintoff, who has suffered a recurrence of an ankle injury, for all three Tests.—AFP