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England in New Zealand 2007-08
Harmison back concerns ease
Cricinfo staff
February 24, 2008
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Steve Harmison is no stranger to back problems, but England will be hoping he recovers as he is a major part of their planning for the New Zealand series
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Steve Harmison appears to have shaken off a back problem which made him doubtful for England's two-day warm-up match against a New Zealand Invitational XI in Dunedin after bowling in the nets on Sunday.
Harmison received treatment in recent days after reporting some stiffness but didn't seem in discomfort as England stepped up their preparations for the Test series. There are just five days of cricket before the first Test in Napier on March 5 and Harmison will be expected to play both warm-up matches.
He has suffered back problems in the past and the long plane journey to New Zealand won't have helped. He had similar issues in Sri Lanka before recovering to take his place for the last two Tests.
Chris Tremlett, who was part of the one-day squad but didn't play a match, has been added to the Test squad until at least the start of the series. He currently has a slight side strain, but scans have cleared him of any serious damage.
"He's [Harmison] got a stiff back, but we don't think it's anything major and we think it's probably because of the flight," Peter Moores, England's coach, said. "He's bowled for the last two days, including yesterday with it, but it seemed sensible to keep Tremlett on just in case anything more serious developed."
Along with Harmison, Matthew Hoggard, Andrew Strauss, Monty Panesar and Test captain Michael Vaughan are the new faces joining the tour now that the one-dayers are finished. Hoggard and Vaughan, like Harmison, are coming off a break having not played since the Sri Lanka series before Christmas so the two warm-up matches are important for them to find some form.
Strauss has been playing for Northern Districts in the New Zealand domestic one-day tournaments and hit a century in his last outing, while Panesar has flown in from India where he was part of the England Lions squad which played in the Duleep Trophy. He didn't collect a huge haul of wickets but at least had time to get some overs under his belt after struggling in Sri Lanka.
England will field 13 players in the two-day match with Paul Collingwood and Kevin Pietersen being rested after the one-day series. The bowlers should be given a decent workout against a side including Stephen Fleming, Peter Fulton, Matthew Bell and Matthew Sinclair.
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