Harmison primed to perform

The return of Steve Harmison to the England fold is sure to get plenty of people figuring out how best to get with the Durham paceman, or to oppose him, and that could be by taking a look at the spread betting markets.

Will he return with a bang or with a whimper? We won't know for sure until he bowls his first delivery as he is completely a confidence player, but I have a feeling that he may actually be on song.

First, he has a big incentive to do well. Having been out of the England set-up for a while now, he knows he has to hit the ground running if he is to stay in the side, and later on be in the fold come the Ashes next summer.

Secondly, he will have been given a major boost of confidence by the new captain Kevin Pietersen, and that could be all he needs to succeed.

Sporting Index have given him a price of 38-43 for the final Test at the Oval, with 10 points per wicket and a 25-point bonus for a five-wicket haul.

In his four previous Tests at the Oval, he has taken 18 wickets, so the chances are that he will take four or more wickets again his time. And if he hits the heights of his match against West Indies, when he took nine in total, then he has a great chance.