Harmison gets Moores encouragement

Steve Harmison has been urged to rediscover his form for Durham © Getty Images

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Coach Peter Moores has reassured Steve Harmison that he remains in England’s thoughts despite overlooking him for this week’s second npower Test against New Zealand at Old Trafford.

The 29-year-old Durham fast bowler was pushing to feature in Manchester in place of Matthew Hoggard, who suffered a broken left thumb after being hit by a Harmison delivery while batting for Yorkshire last week.

Despite an impressive record at Old Trafford - the last five-wicket haul of his 56-Test career was at the ground as part of a match haul of 11 wickets against Pakistan two years ago - Harmison was overlooked as England called up Hampshire’s Chris Tremlett.

But Moores insisted that Harmison can continue to press his claims for a place by performing for Durham in the LV County Championship.

“Steve has got a good record at Old Trafford - he’s a mature performer - so he’s always going to be talked about,” said Moores.

“I think we feel that at the moment he needs time in county cricket to bowl and get himself ready to come back. I’ve heard he’s been bowling okay, but maybe not fully hitting his straps as best he can.

“When he got left out in New Zealand he was very disappointed, but I also think realistically he knew he wasn’t bowling as well as he could bowl.

“Since then he’s gone away and decided what he wants to do about it and you start to get a plan together to get back to playing the best cricket you can.”

Peter Moores praised the contribution of Alastair Cook and Andrew Strauss at the top of the order

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Having drawn the opening Test at Lord’s, England will be keen to make any advantage count at Old Trafford, where they expect the seamers to exploit the bounce before Monty Panesar comes into the equation later in the game.

“All we’ve heard so far is that it will be hard and bouncy, a bit like the pitch against West Indies last year,” added Moores.

“I’ll be really happy if it’s the same sort of wicket because it brings everyone into the game.”

Old Trafford will also be a test for England’s opening partnership between Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook, who celebrated their first century stand in 15 Tests opening together at Lord’s despite numerous interruptions for rain and bad light.

“I was really pleased with the way they played because they were coming on and off all the time,” said Moores.

“Some people have asked whether Andrew Strauss could have batted quicker but I thought he was really composed.

“They had to start their innings again four or five times and to get a hundred partnership like that was a real testament to how they played.

“I thought they ran well between the wickets, we took scoring opportunities and set a really good platform.”