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Harmison
quits one-day cricket, Vaughan recalled
SYDNEY—England fast bowler Steve Harmison announced his retirement from
one-day internationals, while injured captain Michael Vaughan was
recalled for next month’s triangular series here.
Harmison, 28, said he wanted to concentrate on Test cricket as he quit
ahead of the series with Australia and New Zealand and next year’s World
Cup.
“After careful consideration and having taken advice from several people
who have been close to me throughout my career, I have decided to retire
from one-day international cricket with immediate effect,” he said in a
statement on Thursday.
“This has been a difficult decision but I want to play at the highest
level for as long as I can and believe that concentrating solely on Test
cricket is the best way forward for me during the next phase of what
will hopefully be a long England career,” he said. Harmison has
struggled with his form, taking just one wicket in the first two Ashes
Tests against Australia. He took five in Perth but was unable to prevent
Australia taking an unbeatable 3-0 series lead.
He has taken 67 wickets in 46 one-day matches for England at an average
of 30.7 runs. Selectors said Vaughan’s inclusion in the 16-man squad for
January’s series with Australia and New Zealand was subject to fitness.
They will delay appointing a captain until after the Ashes Test series
against Australia, scheduled to end on January 6. “Michael Vaughan has
been included in the one-day squad subject to fitness,” said chairman of
selectors David Graveney.
“He has made excellent progress with his recovery from injury but we
feel that it would not be appropriate to announce the captaincy of the
one-day side at this stage and will delay any announcement until after
the Test series.”
Left-arm spinner Monty Panesar, who took eight wickets at Perth, has
been included in a one-day squad for the first time.
Squad: James Anderson, Ian Bell, Paul Collingwood, James Dalrymple,
Andrew Flintoff, Ed Joyce, Jon Lewis, Sajid Mahmood, Paul Nixon, Monty
Panesar, Kevin Pietersen, Liam Plunkett, Chris Read, Andrew Strauss,
Chris Tremlett, Michael Vaughan.—Agencies |