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Harmison could be replaced by Broad
STEVE Harmison could face a
battle for his place in this week's
second Test against New
Zealand, after England admitted
their concern about his form.
The 29-year-old Durham fast
bowler struggled for pace and accuracy
during the defeat in
Hamilton, claiming only one
wicket and failing to bowl much
above 80mph.
With the second Test starting
in Wellington on Thursday, his
performance has prompted speculation
about whether England
may prefer 21-year-old Stuart
Broad.
Even captain Michael Vaughan
was forced to admit: It's a
worry, because I want to see
Steve back to what we all know,
which is him bowling at 85mph
plus and getting the ball to go
away from the right-hander and
getting the ball in decent areas.
He'd be the first to admit he
hasn't done that in this game.
The sooner we can get Steve to do
that, the better for the team.''
It is the second successive winter
Harmison has struggled at
the start of a tour, following the
5-0 Ashes whitewash.
He was allowed to arrive in
New Zealand slightly later to
allow him to be at the birth of his
son Charlie, and despite a wayward
display in the warm-up
match in Dunedin, he finished
with a five-wicket haul.
But Vaughan does not believe
either Harmison or Yorkshire
seamer Matthew Hoggard, who
also finished with only one wicket
in the match, went into the
Test under-prepared.
I came out with Hoggy, and
Steve arrived a few days later -
and I felt prepared for a Test
match,'' insisted Vaughan.
We had great facilities in
Christchurch; we had a great
week in Dunedin, and New
Zealand have given us everything
we've asked for.
I felt in my own mind that I
was ready to play and I'm sure
those two would say exactly the
same. They probably didn't have
the best of games. You can have
bad games - that's cricket.''
Broad is bound to come into
the equation in Wellington, having
impressed during England's
one-day series defeat to New
Zealand, and is probably ahead of
Lancashire seamer James Anderson
in the pecking order.
Anderson, who struggled during
the one-day series, was sent
to play for Auckland against
Wellington in New Zealand's domestic
championship this week.
He finished with two for 95
from 38 overs as his new side
slumped to an innings-and-95-
run defeat.
9:09am Monday 10th March 2008
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