Ricky Ponting fears hostile Steve Harmison

David Lloyd
15 Jul 2009

Ricky Ponting believes Steve Harmison will play in the Second Test at Lord's regardless of Andrew Flintoff's fitness.

England were keeping their options open going into this morning's final practice session, with Flintoff set to test out his injured knee by bowling in the nets. But the Australia captain still expects to face the in-form fast bowler and said: “I think the conditions at Lord's will suit him more than the ones down at Cardiff and I had the feeling he was very close to selection there.”

Asked what Harmison would add to an England attack flogged for 674 runs during the drawn Cardiff Test, Ponting said: “A little bit of hostility, I guess. Being as tall as he is, you don't get too many balls pitched up.

“So when you get conditions like this where it will probably bounce a bit more, his style of bowling becomes pretty difficult.”

Harmison has already enjoyed some success against Australia this summer. He took six wickets for the Lions during a tour game two weeks ago at Worcester — twice bouncing out new opener Phillip Hughes.

“There was a lot made of how he bowled at Worcester but I think our guys did a reasonable job,” said Ponting, who was also a Harmison victim at New Road.

“If he plays at Lord's all our guys will be ready for that. They'll be up for the challenge and I'm sure we'll play him well.”

Lord's groundsman Mick Hunt has prepared the same strip he served up for the 2005 Ashes Test — and Harmison has happier memories of that pitch than Ponting, even though Australia won the match.

Harmison hit opener Justin Langer and Ponting with short-pitched deliveries during a sensational first session which saw the Aussies slump to 97 for five.

Second Test squads

England (from): A Strauss (capt), A Cook, R Bopara, K Pietersen, P Collingwood, M Prior (wkt), A Flintoff, S Broad, G Swann, J Anderson, S Harmison, M Panesar, G Onions, I Bell.

Australia (from): S Katich, P Hughes, R Ponting (capt), M Hussey, M Clarke, M North, B Haddin (wkt), M Johnson, N Hauritz, P Siddle, B Hilfenhaus, S Clark.

Umpires: B Doctrove (WI), R Koertzen (SA).
TV replays: N Llong (Eng).
Match referee: J Crowe (NZ).