Faltering England stars told to raise their game

STEVE HARMISON and the rest of England’s out-of-touch players have been warned they need to lift their performance level to guarantee a place in next week’s first Test line-up.

The tourists traditionally field as close a line-up as possible to their Testside in the final warm-up match on tour with most of the permutations already settled.

But England coach Peter Moores has insisted they are still to finalise their line-up after watching a nearly full-strength side get dismissed for a lowly 131 in seamer-friendly conditions by a strong Select XI.

Their batting display was all the more infuriating for Moores when he watched England’s own attack once again fail to exploit those same conditions, with both Harmison and Test rival Chris Tremlett mis-firing as the Select XI established a 46-run lead by reaching 177 for four on the opening day of the three-day game.

It was a desperately disappointing day for the tourists, who had hoped all their key players would gain useful match practice before they complete their final preparations for the Test.

Only three members of their re-shuffled top order even reached double figures, and Kevin Pietersen was the only England batsman to reach a half-century, and when the Select XI began their reply, the hostility and pace expected of Test rivals Tremlett and Harmison failed to materialise.

Tremlett finished with one for 50 from his 13 overs and at least showed some early aggression by hitting opener Matthew Bell in the midriff with a sharply-lifting delivery with the new ball.

But Harmison continues to struggle, and although he only delivered one wide, rarely had the opposition’s top order hopping around after claiming one for 59 from his 12 overs.

“I thought today Steve bowled better but he still wouldn’t be where he wants to be yet,” conceded Moores. “At the moment he’s not had much bowling.