Harmison injury jinx strikes again

Steve Harmison's hopes of playing in the first Test against Sri Lanka at Kandy next week were dealt a major blow when he limped off the field during England's final warm-up match at the Nondescripts Cricket Club in Colombo.

Harmison, who had earlier taken his first wicket of the tour in a much-improved performance, pulled up after bowling three balls of his 11th over. He paused for a while at the top of his mark, and appeared to clutch at the lower right-hand side of his back. After a brief consultation with Michael Vaughan, he left the field immediately and James Anderson completed the over.

The initial fear among the England camp was that Harmison had suffered an aggravation of the muscular tear in his lower back that ruled him out of the end of the English season, but England's coach, Peter Moores, said that the new problem was unrelated, and even held out hopes of Harmison featuring again before the end of the match.

"It's not something he's had before," said Moores. "It's a bit of a twinge, a back spasm, and the physio doesn't think it's anything major. Hopefully it's one of those things that settles down in the next 24 to 36 hours, and he'll be able to play a part in the second innings."

"It's not exactly what you want," said Moores. "Harmy's disappointed because I think he found good rhythm. He started to really hit his straps a little bit and enjoy himself, and was looking forward to having another crack. But we've all had muscle spasms in the past - they hit you like an electric shock and if that goes away you can get right again as quick as it went."

However, with just six days to go until the Kandy Test, Harmison's participation must be in severe doubt, not least because of the blow it will deal to his already fragile confidence. The injury occurred at the beginning of his fourth spell of the day, and though he was not sent for a scan, it came at a moment when he looked set to recapture some of his best form.

"He was really happy," said Moores. "When Harmy's bowling well he attacks the crease and today he was doing it with confidence, with his foot half-and-half on the line. He was getting better all the time, and this has put a bit of a cloud on what was otherwise a really good effort."

In the aftermath of England's first warm-up match at Colombo Cricket Club, Harmison had spoken of his determination to fight for his England place, but also rued the run of bad luck that had left him on the fringes of the squad. Prior to his back problem in August, he had undergone a hernia operation that had ruled him out of the Test series against India.

"In the past we still had bowlers knocking on the door, but I went through a long period of not being injured," said Harmison. "Now I can't get rid of an injury without another one cropping up.

"I need to spend some time on the park, and if I do that and bowl properly, I feel I'm as good as anyone in England. When I'm not bowling that well, and coming back [from injury] all the time, then there are better bowlers than me."