Harmison Ruled Out Off Test Series Due to Hernia

England paceman Steve Harmison has been ruled out of the entire Test series against India with a hernia injury.Harmison will have surgery Tuesday and will be out for four to six weeks, reports BBC.

England coach Peter Moores said: "Unfortunately for him the hernia has come back and now it’s all about getting the operation done as quickly as possible."

James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Chris Tremlett are vying for the third seamer’s spot for the first Test, which starts at Lord’s Thursday.

Harmison first sustained the injury during the final Test against West Indies at Chester-le-Street nearly a month ago but, after tests, England’s medical staff agreed to let Harmison play on.

He had hoped to play a full part in the series against India and then participate in Durham’s first domestic final in the Friends Provident Trophy at Lord’s August 18 before having surgery.

But he suffered a recurrence of the problem during Durham’s county championship match against Sussex at Hove last week and is now set to miss the remainder of England’s summer.

Harmison retired from one-day internationals last winter so his next action with England is likely to be the December Test series in Sri Lanka.Harmison’s misfortune means Leicestershire paceman Broad looks closer than ever to making his Test debut at the age of 21.

Broad’s extra pace and bounce would offer greater variety to a new-ball attack expected to be led by Matthew Hoggard and Ryan Sidebottom.

Lancashire’s Anderson is a similar type of bowler to Hoggard and Sidebottom - offering swing rather than pace.

And with the Lord’s wicket offering more bounce than in the past, England would probably favour Broad’s claims over Anderson, who has not played a home Test since 2004.

Hampshire’s Tremlett, who was called into the squad as extra cover Monday, has played in six one-day internationals without making a Test appearance.

But in all likelihood the 6-foot 7-inch seamer would need at least one more England bowler to break down before Thursday to get a chance of playing.

Source-IANS
JAY/M