Steve Harmison has been left out of the First Ashes Test at Cardiff due to start on Wednesday, after being overlooked for Durham team-mate Graeme Onions.
Both players played for the England Lions against Australia last week, with Harmison finishing with match figure of 6 for 125, including the dismissal of Phil Hughes in both innings, but Onions has been preferred in this first Ashes squad.
Onions has taken over 50 wickets in County Cricket this season, and after a 5-wicket haul on debut against the West Indies the 26 year-old has been the front runner for a test start.
It’s yet to be seen whether Onions will be preferred to second spinner Monty Panesar, on a pitch that is expected to spin early on.
Harmison however should not be too downhearted about the first test snub, with the second test taking place at Lords, a ground famous for its vicious pace and bounce.
The Durham man took five wickets on the first day of the first test at Lords in 2005, and caused the Australian batsman plenty of problems despite England’s crushing defeat.
His performance there, and last week at Worcester proved he still has the weapons to disturb the Aussies and his chances of being chosen for that second test is highly likely.
Elsewhere in the squad Ian Bell is the back-up batsman in the squad, with Paul Collingwood’s place set to be under scrutiny yet again.
With England’s middle order looking like one of their main weaknesses, Collingwood’s role at number five is crucial and with Bell in pretty good touch every move by the Durham man will be watched keenly by the selectors.
For the Australian’s they look set to chose four strike bowlers as oppose to a single spinner for the opening test, with Brett Lee set to complete the quartet.
However a rib injury to the 32-year old means he is now a doubt for the Cardiff match, meaning Nathan Hauritz or Ben Hilfenhaus could take his place.
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