MUMBAI, March 16: England’s strike bowler Steve Harmison has been ruled out of the final Test against India due to a bone stress injury, an England spokesman said on Thursday.

“The x-ray he had in the afternoon has revealed a bone stress injury in his right shin,” Andrew Walpole said.

“He won’t be playing the final Test.”

“We will be seeking further medical opinion from the UK. A further update on his condition will be released tomorrow,” Walpole added.

Harmison’s absence further dents injury-hit England’s hopes of squaring the three-match series, which they trail 1-0. The final Test begins on Saturday.

“If you don’t have a player like Harmison, of course it is a blow,” England’s stand-in captain Andrew Flintoff had told a news conference on Thursday afternoon while discussing the fast bowler’s chances of playing in the decider.

Harmison sustained the injury during the second Ttest in Mohali, where he bowled only four overs in the second innings. He had not bowled at practice on Thursday.

The 27-year-old picked up five wickets in the first two Tests, troubling the Indian batsmen with his steep bounce and accuracy.—Reuters