November 20, 2007	Tuesday	Ziqa’ad 09, 1428

COLOMBO, Nov 19: Fast bowler Steve Harmison will join his England team-mates in Sri Lanka on Tuesday after proving his fitness by playing domestic cricket in South Africa.

Harmison, who has not played international cricket since June because of a hernia problem, will be the 16th member of the touring squad for the three-Test series starting on Dec 1.

The Durham paceman took 13 wickets in two matches for the Highveld Lions in South Africa and was cleared to play by England bowling coach Ottis Gibson.

Harmison, 29, is expected to play one of the two three-day practice matches in Colombo before England head to the hill resort of Kandy for the first Test.

The lanky, loose-limbed Harmison has taken 205 wickets in 54 Tests, but coach Peter Moores said the fast bowler will not be an automatic selection for the first of three back-to-back Tests.

“Steve will be in the mix with everybody else for that first Test,” said Moores. “Steve has proved he can bowl without breaking down and that he is bowling fit, so the next question is whether he is playing well enough to play for his country.

“He has got to come here and get involved and it will be good to see where he is at. It will be good to see him bowl as it will be good to see Michael Vaughan have a bat.”

Harmison will compete with Matthew Hoggard, Ryan Sidebottom, Stuart Broad and James Anderson for the three likely fast bowling places up for grabs in the first Test.

Anderson suffered a stiff back on Sunday and is being closely monitored by the team staff.

“The physios feel it is an early twinge but we will be careful with it,” said Moores. “They are expecting him to be better on Tuesday and to be able to take a part in this game but we will have to wait and see.”

The first practice match against the Sri Lanka Cricket President’s XI will be played from Tuesday. The second match against the same opposition will be held from Nov 25 to 27.

The Kandy Test ends on Dec 5. The second Test will be played in Colombo from Dec 9 to 13 and the third in Galle from Dec 18 to 22.—AFP