Harmison suffers another blow

Stephen Harmison’s injury problems continued on third day of Durham’s County Championship match against Surrey, the paceman reporting a sore side before Wednesday’s play and being sent for scans on the area.

Harmison returned to action just a week ago, after a hernia operation which kept him out of England’s recently concluded three-Test series against India. He is unlikely to be ruled-out of any international assignments as England’s next Test (the only highest-level form of the game Harmison is now available for) is not until 1 December, when they face Sri Lanka. With Ryan Sidebottom, Chris Tremlett and James Anderson furthering their credentials, and Matthew Hoggard to come back into the side, however, Harmison is far from a guaranteed starter in any case.

Harmison’s immediate fitness will be reassessed on Thursday.