• Mick Hunt backs the Durham fast bowler to thrive
• Andrew Flintoff’s knee keeps England sweating
England’s selectors have been urged to play Steve Harmison in the second Test against Australia tomorrow by the man who knows the pitch best.
The Lord’s groundsman, Mick Hunt, believes the Durham fast bowler has the pace and bounce to get the best out of the wicket, just as he did in 2005. “This pitch has a nice coverage of grass and maybe more pace and carry than we’ve sometimes had,” he said. “Harmison gave [Ricky] Ponting and [Justin] Langer a bit of a going over four years ago, so why not play him here? The pitch really looks the part and it may do a bit in the first session. It is also the same pitch that we used against Australia in 2005.” England lost the Ashes opener here four years ago but Harmison drew first blood, quite literally, when he struck Ponting on the cheek. He also hit the openers Langer and Matthew Hayden in a fiery burst in the opening session.
The England selectors are still sweating on the fitness of Andrew Flintoff, who batted both outdoors and indoors yesterday but did not bowl as he gave his sore right knee a chance to heal. “Fred saw his surgeon yesterday and he is quite optimistic about him playing in this Test,” England’s coach, Andy Flower, said yesterday. “He had an injection yesterday and we’re letting it settle down today, so he won’t bowl and just bat. But he will bowl tomorrow and we’ll see how he is and make a decision from there. Fred knows he body quite well now and he will know after training in the next couple of days whether he will be able to make a contribution to this Test.”
The player does not look quite the force he was in the 2005 series but even a reduced Flintoff would give England more balance. “He seems vulnerable a lot of the time,” Flower added. “But he’s a hell of a player and we want him in our side when he’s fit.”
If he is less than fully fit, however, and with a long summer ahead, it seems doubtful that he would be risked. He bowled 35 overs in Australia’s innings in the first Test, once again ridiculing suggestions that he would be used more selectively, in short bursts.
The third and fourth Tests in this series are also back-to-back and it is hard to see a player of his fragile tendencies playing a full part in the summer.
If Flintoff does not play tomorrow, Harmison surely will. “He is a like for like replacement for Fred,” Flower said. “They are both tall, quick bowlers. Steve is a very good fast bowler, he’s got a good record for England and he’s in form.” Ideally both Harmison and Flintoff will be charging in on Thursdaytomorrow but that looks doubtful.
