England have recalled Steve Harmison as part of their 13-man squad for next week's third npower Test against South Africa at Edgbaston.
Durham paceman back for third Test
England have recalled Steve Harmison as part of their 13-man squad for next week's third npower Test against South Africa at Edgbaston.
Paul Collingwood, dropped for the second Test, also returns, as does Ryan Sidebottom, who missed out at Headingley because of a back injury.
However, there is no room for Chris Tremlett and Darren Pattinson, the latter a controversial replacement for Sidebottom in the second Test.
Harmison has been introduced in an effort to add more pace to an attack which has delivered just 13 wickets in the last 344.3 overs sent down to the Proteas.
He has not been considered for a match since being dropped alongside new-ball partner Matthew Hoggard following England's heavy defeat to New Zealand in Hamilton in March.
But he has once again synchronised his pace and direction on the county circuit this summer - the 29-year-old consistently clocking 90 miles per hour in Durham's televised matches.
"Steve Harmison has been bowling well for Durham this season and his inclusion in the Test squad gives us another option in terms of our bowling attack for the Edgbaston Test," said national selector Geoff Miller.
Dismal loss
England's selectors have taken decisive action in the aftermath of the dismal 10-wicket loss at Headingley which, aside from being tarnished by the debate over Pattinson's promotion, has left Michael Vaughan's team 1-0 down with two to play.
With Pattinson and Tremlett sent back to their counties, Harmison is, in effect, the only new name in the frame - the original dozen selected for the second Test having been retained.
Reigning England player of the year Sidebottom is expected to be fit for the Birmingham encounter.
"Ryan Sidebottom has been progressing well with his back injury over the past week and we're confident he'll be fit for selection but obviously he'll be monitored closely in the lead up to next Wednesday," added Miller.
Naming an extended party of 13 offers various options in assessing conditions during the build-up and one of those will be to revert back to a four-man attack.
Such a move would mean a recall to the XI for Harmison's county colleague Paul Collingwood, whose run of 33 consecutive appearances came to an end at Headingley.
"Paul Collingwood was unlucky to miss out on a place in the team for the second npower Test match but this decision was based on a number of factors," said Miller.
"He has shown what a true professional he is by returning to Durham over the past week and playing well for his county."
England (from): MP Vaughan (capt, Yorkshire), AN Cook (Essex), AJ Strauss (Middlesex), KP Pietersen (Hampshire), IR Bell (Warwickshire), PD Collingwood (Durham), A Flintoff (Lancashire), TR Ambrose (wkt, Warwickshire), SCJ Broad (Nottinghamshire), RJ Sidebottom (Nottinghamshire), SJ Harmison (Durham), JM Anderson (Lancashire), MS Panesar (Northamptonshire).
