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Harmison could quit if England overlook him

04/05/2008

Fast bowler Steve Harmison says he could decide to quit the game altogether if his prospects of playing Test cricket for England ended.

The Durham man says he is determined to win his place back in the side after a terrible year of injuries and loss of form.

Harmison says he has spoken to captain Michael Vaughan and coach Peter Moores and claims they are still positive he has a role to play in the future.

The 29-year-old insists that ever since his debut the driving force behind his career has been playing Test cricket for England. Harmison claims the reason he gave up one-day internationals was so that his Test performance would not be affected.

He told the Mail on Sunday: "I am absolutely determined to show I do have something to offer England. I certainly do not believe I'm finished.

"After a terrible year for me on the field, with injuries, operations and so little cricket it is ridiculous, my aim is to bowl fast, take wickets and give the selectors something to think about. And I genuinely believe I can."

Harmison says if he can not force his way back into Moores' first choice XI he would rather move on to something different rather than continue to play county cricket.

He said: "This is not an ultimatum or me trying to impose conditions on anyone. But I'm 29 now and if I felt my England career was over, I would be tempted to say I want to do something different with my life."

Harmison explained that he did not want to be critical of the county scene but claimed having reached the heights of Test cricket "the prospect of playing another four or five years without that target" would be hard.