The England management will monitor him for the next 48 hours before making a final decision. Although David Graveney, the chairman of selectors, told the BBC that Harmison had "not been written out of the equation", it seems improbable that he will be risked.

"The scan is clear, doesn't show any new injuries," Graveney told the BBC. "He's moving a bit easier than he was. To say what his chances of playing or not playing are, we will have to monitor the situation."

"I can't get rid of an injury without another one cropping up," Harmison admitted. "I need to spend some time on the park, and if I do that and bowl properly, I feel I'm as good as anyone in England. When I'm not bowling that well, and coming back [from injury] all the time, then there are better bowlers than me."

Harmison reported a back spasm after bowling the third ball of his 11th over of the warm-up match, which ended yesterday, and did not bat or retake the field. England have been optimistic throughout that he has shown signs of improvement, but his lack of match practice could yet tell against him. He has bowled 16.3 overs since arriving from South Africa last week.