Harmison set to join tour

Steve Harmison © Getty Images

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Steve Harmison will be joining up with the rest of England's Test specialists in New Zealand next week following the birth of his fourth child.

The Durham fast bowler delayed his journey out to Christchurch with captain Michael Vaughan and Matthew Hoggard, who arrived on Friday, because he wanted to be at the birth of his child.

But after celebrating the birth of his son Charlie overnight, Harmison will fly out of England on Monday and link up with the other Test specialists in Christchurch on Wednesday and begin preparations for the first Test in Hamilton starting on March 5.

The contingent of Test specialists based in Christchurch is expected to grow by the end of next week with Andrew Strauss set to join them after playing club cricket out in New Zealand while Monty Panesar will also link up following his spell with the Lions in India.

England have two two-day warm-up matches against Otago in Dunedin immediately after the end of the one-day series next weekend, prior to the start of the three-match Test series.