Harmison considers delaying surgery

Steve Harmison intends to postpone his hernia operation until after the Test series against India and possibly his county Durham's appearance in the Friends Provident Trophy final on August 18.

Harmison learned he required surgery during England's final Test against West Indies in Durham, but having retired from ODIs and appearing to have regained some of the form that made him such a threat once, he is reluctant to lose any opportunity to play. "I will try to play as long as I possibly can, whether it be to the end of the season, whether it be August 18, or whether it be to the end of the Test series against India," Harmison said.

"I retired from one-day international cricket to play as many Test matches as I possibly can. It's not possible at this moment in time to have the operation and be ready for the first Test against India.

"With a bit of luck, I can get through to the third Test, hopefully play the final - which is two or three days later - and then we'll see where I am. If it's giving me some pain, I'll have it then. If it's not giving me pain, I'll go through to the end of the season."

Peter Moores, England coach, backed Harmison, adding that he was hopeful surgery could be delayed. "Speaking to the medical guys - and we have to be guided by them - they said we'd see how it went on the final day of the Test and if it went well there's a chance it could be manageable and we'll see how we go.

"He bowled well and didn't feel any pain from it really and if that carries on and we'll see where we get to because if he has the operation he's going to make him doubtful for those Test matches against India."

Medical experts give an estimated recovery time of around six weeks for a hernia operation, which would rule Harmison out of the first two Tests against India.

"I don't think we'd play him if we thought it was a risk. If he's played all the way through the India Test series he's going to have played quite a bit of cricket so we'll know if it's getting worse or not.

"It would be a shame if he has got to have an operation because he has bowled beautifully and he's getting better all the time."