Smith: Harmison could get another shot
HARMISON
Durham captain Will Smith believes Steve Harmison could be pushing for another England recall in the summer.
The pace bowler's international ambitions took a blow over the winter after he was left out of the touring squads for South Africa and Bangladesh.
Having already slipped behind the likes James Anderson, Stuart Broad and county team-mate Graham Onions in the pecking order, Harmison was overlooked in favour of Tim Bresnan and 20-year-old Steven Finn when England were hit by injuries.
But Smith does not think his lead seamer is ready to give up on Test cricket just yet.
"Harmy really is a class act and will be one until he retires, there's no question about that," Smith said.
"I don't know what the England situation is for him. They seem to have a group of fairly young bowlers and I assume they're trying to nurture and progress them together as a group, but with someone of Harmy's class, ability and stature in the game you'd be foolish to ever rule out the possibility of him getting another crack.
"As far as I'm aware he's still up for England selection. I haven't talked to any of the national coaches but I know Harmy is just as driven as ever and he just wants to take wickets.
"I think he still believes he can do it and as long as he still thinks he can he'll be steaming in and taking wickets for us, which is great for Durham.
"If he doesn't get the call and we have him for a full summer then we'll be doing very well because he's going to take a lot of wickets."
Smith will lead the county champions out in the seasonal curtain raiser against the MCC on Monday, a traditional fixture given a contemporary twist this year with the experimental addition of pink balls and floodlights in Abu Dhabi.
Onions will not be on duty after flying home from Bangladesh with a back injury, but Smith does not expect the seamer to be out of the reckoning for long.
"I don't think his injury is as serious as it could have been," he said.
"In the next few days he's going to Loughborough to be looked over by the England medical team.
"By the time we get back from Abu Dhabi he will probably be back with us and we will assess his strength and fitness then, but I don't think it's as severe as first thought.
"Presumably if he's fit and firing he'll be back in the Test squad for the home Tests against Bangladesh and fingers crossed he will be."
