Harmison Must Bowl, Says Irked County Captain

England's decision to make Steve Harmison unavailable to his county this week is misguided and could be counter-productive said Dale Benkenstein, the fast bowler's Durham captain, yesterday.

Harmison had told Benkenstein he wanted to play in the top-of the-table championship match against Nottinghamshire, due to start at the Riverside yesterday. However, England said Harmison should rest, despite not being required to take the field on the final day of the Test on Monday and not being involved in the forthcoming one-day internationals.

"Harmy knows now what is best for him, and surely they should know by now that the only way he gets up to his standards is to bowl," said Benkenstein. After the Test, the England coach Peter Moores announced that Harmison had said he was emotionally and physically drained.

Durham contacted the ECB again yesterday to request a rethink after rain washed out the first day. However, last night the ECB refused to reconsider. There was also concern in Durham that - remarkably - the decision to rest Harmison seems to have been based partly on "fairness". Nottinghamshire are without Stuart Broad, Ryan Sidebottom and Samit Patel, all members of England's one-day squad.

"England have every right to rest centrally contracted players, but we expect the decision to be based entirely on what is good for the players and England," said Durham chief executive David Harker.

Benkenstein also suggested Harmison should reconsider his own decision not to make himself available for one-day internationals. "I think England need him desperately in one-day cricket. He's the guy who can let you still attack as a captain."