England paceman Harmison returns with six innocuous overs

Harmison sounded philosophical at the end of another rain-truncated day, both about having to wait several hours for his kit bag to follow him from South Africa and then with regard to sending down six innocuous overs that cost 48 runs, including six no-balls and one wide, as a President's XI soared to 500 for five declared.

But with England hoping to spend the last day of this first practice match batting, captain Michael Vaughan and coach Peter Moores will soon need to decide whether Harmison is worth a place in the final warm-up game before the opening Test against Sri Lanka.

Were it not for the fact that Harmison has proved in the past that he can bowl faster and more aggressively than anyone else in English cricket, the answer would be easy. As it is, Harmison can expect another outing.

"What will be, will be," said the 29-year-old, whose spell with an old ball on a slow pitch either side of tea was his first for England since June following hernia and back problems.

"I've not got the shirt. I'm not going to bullshit anyone or tell lies. All I can do do is go out to fight for my place."

Harmison was not named in England's original squad of 15 for the three-Test series, which begins on 1 December. But the selectors kept a place open for him while he tried to find fitness and form through playing two domestic games for the Highveld Lions in South Africa.

Despite mixed results, Harmison was summoned last weekend. He made it on schedule yesterday, but his kit failed to turn up until this afternoon.

"The boots not turning up on time was probably a Godsend because I was able to bowl about 15 overs in the indoor school today [wearing borrowed trainers] and try a few things we've been working on," he said.

"I was getting better each day in South Africa. Today, when I got out on the field, I didn't get any wickets but the ball came out of my hand not bad. The over before tea and the one after we were experimenting. We have to do that in warm-up games to try to get it to reverse swing. It didn't work but I'd rather do now than in the Test."

As in South Africa, Harmison had problems with overstepping. And, on an unresponsive surface, he was comfortably pulled and cut.

"If it's good enough and I'm ready, I'll be playing in the First Test," he said. "If it's not, then the people who have earned their places will keep them. I'm realistic that way. I just wanted the chance to go to South Africa and prove to everyone that I want to play for England. I instigated that trip."

Harmison was by no means alone in struggling for reward before rain arrived to end play 90 minutes early.

Matthew Hoggard did find more rhythm and ended Upul Tharanga's innings via a sliced catch to gully after the opener had made 112.

And spinner Graeme Swann, who took some heavy punishment, at least sent back Chamara Kapugedera, albeit for 141, when the 20-year-old holed out to deep mid-wicket.

But that was the extent of England's success. "The bowlers have got out of the match what they wanted to," said Harmison. "The result is irrelevant."