Allan Border: Steve Harmison can rekindle attack

Harmison has been recalled to the squad - ostensibly as cover for Andrew Flintoff, who is a doubt for the match with a right knee problem - and is a strong contender to play on a wicket which is likely to offer far more to the seam bowlers than the Cardiff one did last week.

England took just six Australian wickets in the drawn first Test and Border, who captained his country from 1985-93 and was at the helm when the Aussies regained the urn in 1989, insists Harmison makes the home attack a far more dangerous proposition.

"If Harmison is bowling at full tilt, he adds something to the side - no doubt," said Border. "It seems as though he gets a bit homesick when he travels but he likes playing in England. If he's bowling anywhere near his best, the Aussies rate him highly and he can be a real problem.

"He might not be taking many wickets at his end but he creates enough pressure, especially if the England boys are bowling as a pack."

* Allan Border spoke to the Evening Standard from Lillian Baylis Technology School in Kennington, where he conducted a Red Dust Role Models cricket clinic with Year 7 pupils. For more information visit www.reddust.org.au or www.vodafonefoundation.org