Cricket:Steve Harmison may have bowled his last ball for England after being overlooked for the tour of South Africa.
Despite national selector Geoff Miller insisting the door was still open for the Durham paceman, England are looking towards the future in this winter’s series.
Although 30-year-old Harmison played in the final two Ashes Tests of the summer, he has paid the price for long-term inconsistent form, having in 2004 been ranked the world’s number one bowler.
Harmison indicated he did not want to tour Australia in 2010/2011, and indeed would consider announcing his formal retirement from international cricket if England did not give assurances he would be more than a “bit-part” player.
While Miller maintained Harmison could yet force his way back into the squad, time does not appear to be on his side.
“His performances, certainly over the last two or three tours, have not mirrored what he was capable of doing,” Millar said.
“We had to keep an eye not only on the present day, but on the future as well.
“Steve stated he did not want to tour Australia in 2010-11, so we had to think about the future as well.
“So consequently, and unfortunately for Steve, he has not been selected.
“We have got to keep the conveyor belt working and know what Steve is capable of doing, and yes, we have to move on to think about Australia in 2010.
“I understand what he is saying, that there is no point in him going out there
as an experienced player and just walking around carrying drinks.
“But he has to fight for his place just like everyone else, and perform and get into the side on quality and ability.
“We just can’t guarantee that he’s going to be a player out there.
“Although it didn’t completely go against him, it was part of the discussion.”
Miller today announced 16-man Test and one-day squads at Lord’s, with Ravi Bopara, Owais Shah and spinner Monty Panesar also missing out, although South Africa-born Kevin Pietersen was included as he recovers from an Achilles operation.
Miller was adamant Harmison will remain in the selectors’ thoughts for as long as he is available.
“He didn’t mention that (retirement) to me at all, but obviously that opportunity is there for him,” said Miller.
“We will continue to consider (him) until a decision is made that he doesn’t want to play international cricket anymore.
“He has been a terrific performer for England over the years and has my full respect as a cricketer.
“But unfortunately, over the last few years, he’s not performed like he is capable of performing.”
Pietersen, 29, has been sidelined since hobbling out of the Ashes victory at Lord’s during July and heading for an operation.
His recovery then received a setback when the scar caused by the surgery became infected.
Although he is not certain to be fit for the two Twenty20 internationals on November 13th and 15th, the England hierarchy remain optimistic Pietersen will return during the five-match one-day series, which begins on November 20th in Johannesburg and concludes a fortnight later in Durban.
Miller said: “He is very optimistic. It has been a big injury and a big rehab.
“I have talked to him several times and have been to see what his injury is like.
“There might be a problem for the Twenty20, but he is pretty confident he will get there for some of the one-dayers.
“The feeling of it is he will be pretty good well into the tour.”
All-rounder Paul Collingwood was selected despite being forced out of the Champions League with a torn buttock muscle.
The Test squad - missing Andrew Flintoff following his retirement – also contains three uncapped players: Surrey wicket keeper Steven Davies, Yorkshire leg-spinner Adil Rashid and the Sussex all-rounder Luke Wright.
Durham pace bowler Liam Plunkett earns a recall to the Test squad, which features Essex opener Alastair Cook as vice-captain.
Cook has also been recalled to the one-day squad together with Lancashire quick bowler Sajid Mahmood.
Jonathan Trott, who made a century on his Test debut in the Ashes victory over Australia at The Oval during the summer, is in both squads.
The tourists open against South Africa with two Twenty20 internationals, in which Collingwood will lead the side, ahead of five one-day internationals.
The first of the four Test matches starts on December 16th at SuperSport Park, Centurion.