Harmison heads to South Africa

Liam Plunkett and Steve Harmison are set to travel to South Africa © Getty Images

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England fast bowler Steve Harmison will continue on the road back to full fitness by playing in South Africa next month.

The 28-year-old is set to feature in two first-class matches for Highveld Lions as he steps up his rehabilitation following the injury problems that disrupted his season.

He suffered a hernia during the Test series against West Indies, which later required surgery, and a back problem sustained on domestic duty for Durham brought his summer to a premature end.

Harmison, who has not played for England since the fourth Test against West Indies at the Riverside in June, will be accompanied in South Africa by England bowling coach and former Durham team-mate Ottis Gibson.

An ECB spokesman told ecb.co.uk: “The plan is for Stephen to travel to South Africa at the end of this month and play two first-class matches for Highveld Lions in November.”

The Lions meet Cape Cobras at Paarl on November 8-11, and the Nashua Dolphins on November 15-18 at Potchefstroom.

Fellow seamer Liam Plunkett, Harmison’s Durham colleague, is also expected to travel to South Africa to play for the Dolphins.

He is set to join Durham captain Dale Benkenstein at the Dolphins, although Durham coach Geoff Cook denied reports that a four-month deal has been signed.

"There have been some talks but nothing has been finalised yet," Cook told ecb.co.uk.

"Liam will probably reach a stage where bowling in the nets cannot take him any further.

"Like all young fast bowlers he will benefit from getting some overs in, so a spell in first-class cricket somewhere over the winter would probably be of benefit to him."