Harmison named in England squad

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Harmison, 29, has been introduced in a bid to offer extra pace to an attack which has toiled its way to just 13 wickets in the last 344.3 overs sent down to the Proteas in the series.

"Steve Harmison has been bowling well for Durham this season and his inclusion in the Test squad gives us another option in terms of our bowling attack for the Edgbaston Test," said national selector Geoff Miller.

England's selectors have taken decisive action in the aftermath of the Headingley hammering which, aside from being tarnished by the unseemly disagreements on the promotion of Darren Pattinson, has left Michael Vaughan's team 1-0 down with two to play.

Australian-raised Pattinson and Chris Tremlett, the two stand-by bowlers for the 10-wicket defeat in Leeds, have been cast back to their counties.

In effect, therefore, Harmison is the only new name in the frame as the original dozen selected for the second of a four-match campaign have been retained.

Ryan Sidebottom, whose back injury triggered the late call-ups last week, is expected to be fit for the Birmingham encounter.

"Ryan has been progressing well with his back injury over the past week and we're confident he'll be fit for selection, but obviously he'll be monitored closely in the lead-up to next Wednesday," added Miller.

Naming an extended party of 13 offers the team management various options in assessing conditions during the build-up, and one of those will be to revert back to a four-man attack.

Such a move would mean a recall to the XI for Harmison's Riverside colleague Paul Collingwood, whose chain of 33 consecutive appearances was severed at Headingley.