Harmison focused on positive return

Steve Harmison intends to ignore the criticism surrounding his recall by England and is confident of making an impact if he makes his Test comeback at Edgbaston this week.

The selection of the 29-year-old Durham fast bowler as an antidote to England's disappointing performance during the 10-wicket defeat to South Africa at Headingley Carnegie in the second npower Test has divided critics.

But Harmison, who stands 10th on England's all-time list of Test wicket-takers with 212 victims, has refused to become involved in the controversy and is instead focussing on forcing his way into the final line-up on Wednesday.

"I'm not looking to prove any points, the selectors made a decision and everybody is talking about them," said Harmison, who has claimed 75 wickets in all cricket this summer.

"They made a call months ago to leave me and Matthew Hoggard out and went six games without changing the team. They went six games playing well and at the time it was the right decision.

"Now they made a choice last week and it didn't work for them, the one in New Zealand did. I've got a chance now to stake my claim and I'm looking forward to it."

He continued: "I can only do what I've been doing and if I play this week or next week it doesn't matter as long as I'm at that stage where I'm near the top of the ladder at where I want to be.

"Now I've got to get in the team and stay in the team. Vaughany knows what he can get out of me once everything is going well and going right, and I feel with overs under my belt I'm confident of doing that."

Since being dropped in the aftermath of England's surprise first Test defeat in New Zealand alongside Hoggard, Harmison's desire to play for England has been questioned along with his long-term future at international level.

Steve Harmison was confident he would be seen in an England shirt again after being dropped recently

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But having delivered 434 overs in all forms of cricket this summer Harmison believes he is ready for a return to the Test arena.

"When I left New Zealand I asked 'what have I got to do to get back in' and I think I've answered that question as well as I possibly could have," Harmison explained.

"I've bowled overs and taken wickets, in fact I feel as though I've bowled the most overs in the country and I've taken a lot of wickets so I'm pleased.

"I've got continuous cricket under my belt. I think I've only missed two or three Twenty20 games this year, so I've played every form of the game for Durham.

"A lot of people thought you'd never see me in an England shirt again, but I was never one of them and that is the thing. If I was one then I'd have gladly said I couldn't carry on and pack it in, but no.

"I asked what I had to do, I've gone away knuckled down and done it. That is what I wanted to do because I've always wanted to play for England.

"I've missed the atmosphere. It is great playing for Durham and I love it, but the buzz of the first morning is a Test match is not something you get playing at the Riverside."

If he forces his way into England's line-up at Edgbaston on Wednesday, the selectors will want a considerable improvement from his recent Test performances.

"The thing for me is to be constantly playing and I think in the eight months after I had my hernia operation (last year) I only played five or six first-class games," he added.

"Three or four of them were Test matches and for me it is hard to go straight into it - I feel I've got overs under my belt now.

"Hopefully I'm a better bowler for having time out of the team and hopefully I've learnt a few things about my own body and bowling. I'm looking forward to this week if I can get a game.

"I wanted to get back in the Test team and that is all I want to do. I said I'd bowl better once I've had a long run up of bowling.

"Sometimes you need to take time away from the game and away from the big stage to get everything back in a groove and get everything right to actually come back."