You are in > manchester.com  > News > Harmison injury fears allayed following scan on sore back

Cricket

Harmison injury fears allayed following scan on sore back

24/02/2008

Steve Harmison has been passed fit to take part in England's warm-up game against an invitational side in Dunedin tomorrow.

Harmison's participation in the game had been in doubt yesterday when the pace man said he was suffering from a sore back.

Because Harmison missed so much of the 2007 through injury the England team were cautious about his involvement in Dunedin.

However scans on the complaint have come back negative and the Durham bowler has been given the all-clear to continue with his preparations ahead of the first Test against New Zealand.

"He's got a stiff back but we don't think it's anything major and we think it's probably because of the flight," said coach Peter Moores.

"He's bowled for the last two days, including yesterday with it, but it seemed sensible to keep [Chris] Tremlett on just in case anything more serious developed."

Tremlett was in the one-day squad and not originally selected for the Test series. With Harmison's injury not as bad as first feared the Hampshire bowler will now return to England.

Harmison bowled for 30 minutes in the nets today and the England medical staff will monitor his recovery but he has been named in the 13-man side for tomorrow's match.

One-day captain Paul Collingwood and batsman Kevin Pietersen have both been rested for the two-day Dunedin match but are likely to return when the team plays its final warm-up against Otago on Thursday.

Top-order batsman Andrew Strauss makes his return to the side after being rested for the tour of Sri Lanka while spinner Monty Panesar is also included in the team after sitting out the recent one-day series.