Harmy: Don't write off Hughes

Harmison: Putting his hand up for a Test recall?

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Steve Harmison has played down his domination of Phil Hughes in the Australians' warm-up match against the England Lions.

The former England paceman bounced-out the left-hander in both innings but warned against bowling too many short-pitched deliveries at the opener when the Ashes series gets under way in Cardiff next week.

"A lot has been made of his dismissals in the last two innings, but in my opinion it counts for nothing," said Harmison, who did his chances of a recall for the first Test no harm at all with a hostile opening spell.

"Come next Wednesday he will be opening the batting for Australia, but let's hope people don't get too carried away. This kid is 20 and averages over 50 in Test cricket.

"I am sure in the next four or five days he will be in the nets putting the little things right we've had a look at, and I'm sure he will come back strong.

"England have got to be wary of not bowling too many short balls at him."

Character

Harmison also urged fans to get behind Andrew Flintoff following the recent negative publicity surrounding the player after he missed a team bus on a two-day trip to Flanders.

"Andrew Flintoff is a fantastic cricketer, and we need him to do well because of what he means and stands for in this country," the Durham bowler added.

"He's a larger-than-life character, and if he gets on a roll, he will take 18,000 with him at Cardiff.

"A lot of the stuff that has been written about him this week is utter rubbish in my opinion, but we keep kicking our big sportsmen in this country. I wonder why we do it.

"In a week's time, if he has a stump in the air and we have won in Cardiff, everyone will be clapping their hands and saying that Freddie is brilliant."