Steve Harmison has revealed his disappointment at being overlooked by England for this winter’s tour of South Africa despite indicating his willingness to fight for his place.
The Durham fast bowler was overlooked for the 16-man party, with the selectors wanting to take a younger seam battery to take on the world’s No 1 Test side as they attempt to build on their Ashes victory this summer.
National Selector Geoff Miller indicated England had overlooked him because he had not performed as well as they had hoped over the last couple of years and they could not guarantee his place in the side.
But Harmison has insisted he would have been willing to battle for selection, although he admitted he was doubtful his body could withstand the rigours of international cricket between now and the next Ashes tour in 2010-11.
“I was expecting to be picked in the squad and I’m disappointed I wasn’t in,” explained Harmison. “I spoke to (coach) Andy Flower three or four times before the squad announcement and he asked me my thoughts on the winter and I told him I wanted to go.
“I was prepared to go out there and fight for my place if I wasn’t in the side at the start of the Test series. Andy told me England could not guarantee me anything, but I didn’t expect anybody in international cricket to be guaranteed a place in the side - I wanted to go out there and give everything I possibly could until I couldn’t give any more.”
England have instead chosen Durham team-mates Liam Plunkett and Graham Onions, a fellow stablemate of Harmison’s at ISM, alongside Stuart Broad, James Anderson and Ryan Sidebottom as they look ahead to their next meeting with Australia.
“I told them I wasn’t sure my body was up to going to Australia in nearly two years time, but I didn’t say I wasn’t prepared to go out there,” claimed Harmison. “The schedule between now and then makes me think that my body will not be able to withstand all that and then compete at my best in an intense Ashes series.
“They gave that as one of the big reasons for not picking me and I respect that decision if they want to move forward with a new set of players, but surely they want their strongest side to take on South Africa on their own soil? I know they have a duty to plan for the future and the next Ashes series, but winning in South Africa would give the team a massive confidence boost and enable them to move on towards that.”
He stressed: “I was good enough to be in the team for the biggest match of last summer when the Ashes were at stake at the Oval but just a few weeks later, the selectors are now saying they want to take a different route. That is why I am so confused about why I was left out of the squad.
“I believe I’m one of the best five seamers available to England. I accept I haven’t bowled as well as I’d have liked in the last two or three years for England, but my record stands up against almost anybody and I’ve had to bowl on some flat wickets away from home in the last two years.”
Harmison has, however, refused to announce his retirement from international cricket and is now concentrating on continuing for Durham, who he hopes to help claim a third successive county championship title next summer.
“I’m hoping to sign a longer contract with Durham and I will concentrate on trying to help them win as many trophies as possible in the next few years and if anything changes with England they know where I am and what I can do,” he said.
“I’m not a big one for milestones, but I would love to reach 1,000 first class wickets in my career. I’ve been told I have 679 at the moment and if I can continue playing to reach 1,000, I would regard that as a phenomenal achievement.”