Stephen Harmison’s international future appears to be over after the England selectors left him out of the squad for the tour of South Africa.
The Durham fast bowler, a poor traveller by his own admission, was not given a central contract by the ECB in August and this latest announcement only serves to underline the desire of Andy Flower, the team director, and Andrew Strauss, the England captain, to move on.
Liam Plunkett, Harmison’s county team-mate, will bolster England’s pace bowling attack of James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Graham Onions and Ryan Sidebottom.
“Stephen Harmison has not been included in the Test squad because we feel his form has not been consistent enough over the past 12 months to justify a regular place in the side and we want to give an opportunity to other players to make a case for selection,” Geoff Miller, the national selector said.
It is thought that Harmison was considering quitting international cricket this summer, until an encouraging performance in the Ashes-winning final Test at the Oval cast a slightly different light on his options.
Luke Wright, the fast-bowling all-rounder who scored 48 in England’s Champions Trophy semi-final defeat to Australia, is the one surprise inclusion in the 16-man Test squad that includes three new caps.
The other two players included for the first time are Steven Davies, the Surrey wicketkeeper, who is preferred to Geraint Jones and Adil Rashid, the 21-year-old Yorkshire leg spinner who impressed last season with bat and ball, and gets his chance ahead of Monty Panesar.
Kevin Pietersen returns as he steps up his recovery from surgery on his Achilles tendon for the 2½-month tour which will include two Twenty20 internationals, five one-day internationals and four Test matches.
Plunkett, who helped Durham win the county championship, gets the nod ahead of Sajid Mahmood and the selectors have also included Jonathan Trott, who made a century on his Test debut in England’s victory over Australia at the Brit Oval this summer.
Ravi Bopara, the Essex batsman, is overlooked after his poor Ashes series.
“We are delighted to welcome Steven Davies and Luke Wright into the Test squad for the first time. Steven is a player of great potential who has been a consistent performer for his county and he will act as understudy to Matt Prior in South Africa.
“The retirement of Andrew Flintoff has created a vacancy for an all-rounder in the squad and while we do not see Luke Wright as a like-for-like replacement for Andrew, we are excited by the way in which his all-round game continues to develop and believe he can make an impact at Test level.
“Kevin Pietersen is making good progress with his recovery from surgery on his injured achilles. He will join up with the rest of the squad in South Africa following the first two T20 Internationals and his fitness will be reassessed ahead of the one day series.”
Test squad
Andrew Strauss (Middlesex) captain
Alastair Cook (Essex) vice captain
James Anderson (Lancashire)
Ian Bell (Warwickshire)
Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire)
Paul Collingwood (Durham)
Steven Davies (Surrey)
Graham Onions (Durham)
Kevin Pietersen (Hampshire)
Liam Plunkett (Durham)
Matt Prior (Sussex)
Adil Rashid (Yorkshire)
Ryan Sidebottom (Nottinghamshire)
Graeme Swann (Nottinghamshire)
Jonathan Trott (Warwickshire)
Luke Wright (Sussex)
One Day squad:
Andrew Strauss (Middlesex) captain,
James Anderson (Lancashire),
Tim Bresnan (Yorkshire),
Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire),
Paul Collingwood (Durham),
Alastair Cook (Essex),
Joe Denly (Kent),
Sajid Mahmood (Lancashire),
Eoin Morgan (Middlesex),
Graham Onions (Durham),
Kevin Pietersen (Hampshire),
Matt Prior (Sussex),
Adil Rashid (Yorkshire),
Graeme Swann (Nottinghamshire),
Jonathan Trott (Warwickshire),
Luke Wright (Sussex)
