LONDON // Fast bowler Steve Harmison has made himself available for England's coming tours of India and the West Indies after being recalled to the team against South Africa earlier this month. "I've enjoyed coming back so I'm now back in the selectors' hands," the 29-year-old told BBC radio. "It's up to them now what squad they pick because I'm not selected for India. If I get selected to go to India, then I'll be on the plane. I'm available. I'm coming back to play cricket," he added.
Harmison grabbed four wickets in England's victory in the final Test against South Africa at the Oval this month on his return to the Test team after a five-month absence. The Durham county player also came out of retirement from one-day internationals, claiming figures of two for 43 in 10 overs in the opening victory against South Africa at Headingley. He also took two wickets in one over in England's demolition of the Proteas in the second one-dayer at Trent Bridge.
"I came back and played at Headingley and the way things are looking, I'm available for the winter," Harmison, who has said in the past that he did not want to be away from his young family, told Sky Sports News ahead of Friday's third ODI at the Oval. "I've got four young children, and I miss them dearly when I go away from home, but once I have said I was available, I'm available. It's a lot more stable now than when I retired.
"They (the family) are a massive part of my life and they always come first and I've been criticised for that but that will never change," he added. "But they are fully 100 per cent behind me... they said go for it and give it your best shot." England are due to play two Tests and seven one-dayers in India in November and December before travelling to the West Indies in January-March. Meanwhile, Jacques Kallis will take over from the injured Graeme Smith as South Africa captain for the third one day international against England, coach Mickey Arthur confirmed today. South Africa needs to win tomorrow's match at the Oval to keep the series alive after being thrashed by 10 wickets in the second ODI at Nottingham on Tuesday and Smith will be absent due to a persistent elbow problem. "Graeme, from the last test match and the start of the one dayers, has been pretty much playing on borrowed time with his elbow unfortunately," Arthur told Sky Sports News. "He tried to battle it out as much as he could but after Trent Bridge we just realised he couldn't go any more," he added. "We are going to rest and rehab Graeme and get him ready for the start of our home series which is Bangladesh in November and then Australia. Graeme needs the time off now." In other news, Australia prepare to take on Bangladesh in Darwin tomorrow in their opening one-day fixture, skipper Ricky Ponting backed the idea of cricket being part of the Olympics. "I think it's inevitable Twenty20 will be an Olympic sport," he said. "The International Olympic Committee could do a lot worse than put cricket into the Olympics." The other cricket this weekend is in Colombo as Sri Lanka take on India in the fifth and final one-dayer in their series. India have already won the series as they hold a 3-1 lead in the series. The International Cricket Council have confirmed the LG ICC Awards ceremony will take place in Dubai on Sept 10. The event was due to be staged in Lahore ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy but with that tournament being postponed, it has now been moved to the Dubai.
*Agencies
