Date:08/12/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/12/08/stories/2004120802681900.htm

Sport - Cricket

Harmison primed for South Africa series

JOHANNESBURG, DEC. 7. Steve Harmison hopes to pick up where he left off when South Africa and England clash in the first Test in Port Elizabeth on December 17.

The lanky fast bowler finally made his mark on international cricket when he took four wickets in South Africa's second innings in the last Test at the Oval in 2003 to help England win the match and square the series.

``It was massive, from that game onward I felt I could play at this level,'' Harmison told a news conference on Tuesday.

``It was make or break at the Oval, that changed everything for me.''

Harmison, 26, has since risen through the ranks to become Test cricket's top-rated fast bowler but remains modest about the title ahead of the five-Test series.

``It's not something I'm going to shout from the rooftops,'' Harmison said. ``I can't see Graeme Smith being too fearful about that when I'm running in to bowl in Port Elizabeth. Batsmen are still going to hit a 98 mile-an-hour half-volley for four.''

Harmison withdrew from England's tour to Zimbabwe on moral grounds and believes the break has primed him for the series in South Africa.

England planned to train at the Wanderers on Tuesday morning, but persistent rain since Monday meant the session was postponed.

The squad may be forced to move to the indoor nets at Centurion, half an hour from Johannesburg.

Boje in, Gibbs ignored

Meanwhile, South Africa named its team and vice-captain Nicky Boje, who opted out of the series in India fearing interrogation over the 2000 match-fixing scandal, was included for the first three Tests against England.

However, Herschelle Gibbswas left out by the selectors, who maintained that the opener was ``injured.''

The team:

South Africa: Graeme Smith (capt.), Nicky Boje (vice-capt.), Hashim Amla, Zander de Bruyn, A. B. de Villiers, Boeta Dippenaar, Andrew Hall, Jacques Kallis, Makhaya Ntini, Shaun Pollock, Jacques Rudolph, Dale Steyn, Thami Tsolekile. Manager: Goolam Rajah. Coach: Ray Jennings. — Agencies