England hopeful of Harmison recovering in time for one-dayers

Mumbai, Mar 17 (UNI) England team management is still hopeful that pace ace Steve Harmison, who will miss the third Test due to a shin injury, would be available for the seven one-dayers which follow the Test series.

England coach Duncan Fletcher told reporters here today that the X-Ray done on Harmison's right shin had been sent to England for advice from the doctors there and we are hopeful that the pace bowler would be available at some point of the one-day series.

Harmison has been suffering from a sore right shin and the injury first surfaced during the second Test which England lost by nine wickets in Mohali. Harmison was able to bowl only four overs in the second innings there.

Fletcher said they did not want to take any chances with Harmison's fitness and therefore, decided to pull him out of the third Test beginning here tomorrow.

''We will decide the future course of action after we hear from the doctors in England,'' Fletcher said, adding that at the moment they had not asked for any replacement.

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