Thirsting for action but Harmy may have to wait

Three years ago, the big Geordie was acclaimed as the most lethal paceman in international cricket, but he has since slipped down the global rankings.

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Sitting it out: Harmison could be watching more than playing in Sri Lanka

Through all the times of injury and form fluctuations, he remained the national team's nominal attacking spearhead, but it has reached the point where even that status is in doubt.

Peter Moores, the England coach, confirmed that Harmison was flying to Sri Lanka following a two-match comeback in South Africa. He will become the 16th player in the touring party, but it is by no means certain he will force himself into the leading XI for the first Test in Kandy.

As a bowler who relies on the right mood and rhythm, he needs lots of overs to achieve peak performance, something he was some way short of in the past fortnight, despite claiming 13 wickets.

Moores plans to carry out a first-hand assessment of Harmison's progress by pitching him straight into the opening tour match against a strong Board President's XI, which starts on Tuesday morning.

But he admitted the 29-year-old might not play again until England's next overseas assignment in the new year.

'International cricket doesn't start and end with this tour, it's an on-going thing,' said Moores.

'If Steve is ready to play in that first Test or if he needs more time, either way the work we do with him can be positive because after we finish here we have a month (at home), then we go to New Zealand.

'We know we need a bank of bowlers because of the demands of playing. I don't know how many bowlers we will need in this series, but we are playing 15 days in 22 so that is going to be a pretty tough schedule. We want all our squad fit and raring to go.'

Moores has been working his players hard here, so Harmison can benefit from an intense environment, surrounded by other bowlers jostling for Test places.

James Anderson bowled a long spell in the nets on Monday to suggest the pain in his back had eased and he should play some part in the game.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka finally showed some fighting spirit in their second Test against Australia in Hobart. Set a far-fetched target of 507 for victory, they reached 247 for three at the end of the fourth day, with Kumar Sangakkara unbeaten on 109 after opener Marvan Atapattu made 80.