Harmison admits homesickness worries

Steve Harmison has hinted he may end his career early because of homesickness. Harmison, 26, told the Independent, a London newspaper, that he could not see himself playing much one-day cricket beyond the World Cup in 2007. Despite a successful summer last year at home against West Indies and New Zealand, where he emerged as the world's leading bowler, Harmison took only nine wickets over the winter in South Africa, each of which cost 73 runs.

"I will never overcome [homesickness] because I never really want to be away," Harmison said. "It would be brilliant if I could sort it out, but I know this is never going to be the case. I cannot see myself playing for England when I am in my mid-thirties. I have a family. My international career will finish when my family needs me to be around a bit more.

"Even now I cannot see myself playing a lot of one-day cricket after the 2007 World Cup It is something I desperately want to play in but, even forgetting the homesickness, the workload will eventually become too much and I just cannot see my body coping with it."