Setback for Harmison

England's hopes of clearing the injury clouds hanging over their pace bowlers before the Ashes suffered another blow yesterday when they abandoned plans for Steve Harmison to play in Durham's last championship game of the season.

Harmison had been due to return against Yorkshire at Headingley next week after missing the one-day series against Pakistan because of a back injury. But England's medical team have now decided he is not ready for a four-day game and they will monitor his fitness in Loughborough.

"Stephen's withdrawal from this match will allow for a more gradual progression in his recovery programme," said England's chairman of selectors, David Graveney. "We anticipate he will be fully fit for the ICC Champions Trophy."

The delay in Harmison's latest comeback arrived only 24 hours after an injury scare to Matthew Hoggard, who has had an MRI scan on his side strain with results expected to be announced today. With Liam Plunkett out injured, Sajid Mahmood ordered to rest and Andrew Flintoff recovering from his ankle operation, the only one of the six seamers selected for the Ashes likely to play in next week's final round of championship matches is Lancashire's James Anderson - and he has not played since suffering a stress fracture in his back in the spring.

Anderson may turn out as a "loan" player for Glamorgan against Gloucestershire in the Second Division match starting on Wednesday because England want him to play a four-day game before the Champions Trophy. Lancashire are still challenging Sussex for the First Division title and may therefore be reluctant to risk him in their crucial last fixture starting the same day at Hampshire. Glamorgan's chief executive, Mike Fatkin, has confirmed his county would accommodate England.