Harmison Backs Tremlett to Square Series

England need bouncebackability against India at The Oval this week and Steve Harmison believes that his deputy, Chris Tremlett, will provide it. England go into the match needing a win to avoid their first home series defeat since 2001 and, on an Oval pitch that seems to be slowly regaining its trampoline properties of the mid-90s, most of their hopes are being pinned on the 6ft 7in Tremlett, who bowled so defiantly during the last rites of the second Test.

Harmison is confident that he is up to the job. "If Chris Tremlett bowls at The Oval as he did at Trent Bridge then England will win," he said. "I played on that pitch for Durham [Harmison took 7 for 126 in a county championship match in July] and it is perfectly suited to Chris with lots of bounce. It was the bounce he got that upset the Indians at Trent Bridge and the wicket at the Oval is just right to get results."

Tremlett's hit-the-deck style has enabled him to hit the ground running in his debut Test series, and his splendid performance - 10 wickets at an average of 19.60 and, perhaps even more startlingly, with an economy rate of 2.22 - has come as a surprise to those who felt he did not have the appropriate mindset to succeed in the unyielding environment of Test cricket.

Certainly few people doubted that he had the raw physical materials. "I toured with Chris in 2001 at the Academy and he's always looked a Test bowler; he's got it all going for him," said Harmison, speaking at a skills event run by Chance to shine and sponsored by Allianz Insurance at his home club of Ashington. "The question mark that's hung over him has been if his body can hold up to Test cricket, because you can't pick someone if they're going to play one Test and miss the next three. He needed a half season of solid cricket to get his body right and bowl consistently and it was great to see him bowl 40 overs at Trent Bridge. Maybe his body has grown into international cricket now.

"I've said all along that the batting line-ups will cancel each other out in this Test series and it will be won by a bowling attack that wins a couple of sessions. That's what happened at Trent Bridge after Vaughany lost the loss and they hurried us out but Chris can do it to them at The Oval. I expect England to win and level the series."

The emergence of Tremlett and Ryan Sidebottom, as well as the re-emergence of James Anderson, has increased competition for places in England's bowling attack - particularly for the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka, on which England are only likely to play three seamers.

It is a development that Harmison relishes. "It's been encouraging to see new bowlers come through such as Tremlett and Sidebottom and means that Hoggy, Freddie and me will have to fight for our places," he said. It also throws up the mouthwatering (and, for opponents, eyewatering) prospect of a trio of big hitters, Harmison, Flintoff and Tremlett, bowling in tandem. "Could I bowl well with Chris? The only way you'll know is to give it a chance," Harmison said. "People might say we're very similar but you pick the four bowlers most likely to take wickets, whether they're 6ft 7in and use the bounce or 5ft 10in with swing.

"I've played a lot of county cricket this year and I know how high the standard is. The way that Tremlett and Sidebottom have stepped up this summer shows the strength of the domestic game. We now have a lot of quality bowlers who can go forward together under Allan Donald." That's for the future. For the time being, all eyes are on Thursday and the Oval.