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Harmison set to miss Stanford opener

26/10/2008

England seamer Steve Harmison looks likely to miss his side's opening match of the Stanford series due to a wrist injury.

Harmison fractured his left (non-bowling) wrist during the last match of the County Championship season playing for Durham and has been hampered by it since.

England coach Peter Moores also revealed he had been suffering with a stomach illness. The dual fitness issues will therefore rule him out of the clash against Middlesex today.

Moores said: "Steve still has a little niggle which we will take advice on. It might be that it is a bit early, so he might miss out.

"He has also felt a little bit sick today, nothing major, just some tummy trouble."

Moores is pleased with England's current one-day form having comprehensively beaten South Africa at the end of the English summer.

The coach hopes they will be able to take some momentum into the Stanford series which culminates in a $20 million (£12.59 million) match next weekend.

He said: "It was a very settled side and it looked a good side. They have all played very good cricket and put themselves in a strong position to play."

Ryan Sidebottom could come back into the line up in place of Harmison. The Nottinghamshire bowler missed the one-day series against South Africa and the final Test due to a range of niggles that included a side injury.

Moores says that although Sidebottom has not played much competitive cricket recently he expects him to be able to slot back into the side.

"He hasn't had much match practice but he is now physically fit enough to bowl off his full run," said Moores.

The coach said he would be assessing both his players and the pitch in Antigua to allow him to select the best XI for the big match against the Stanford Superstars next weekend.

He said: "We have got a few things to have a look at to make sure we are settled by the team we take the field next Saturday."