Liam Plunkett, Harmison’s team mate at County Cricket level with Durham was included in the squad along with Steve Davies, Adil Rashid, and Luke Wright. But there was no place for either Ravi Bopara, who has been in unimpressive form for England throughout the Ashes and ODIs, or Owais Shah which surprises me a little.

Kevin Pietersen is making good progress and will join the squad following the two Twenty20 internationals when his fitness will be assessed ahead of the one day series.

The Full Test and One day squads are:

Test squad:Andrew Strauss (Middlesex – captain), Alastair Cook (Essex – vice captain), James Anderson (Lancashire), Ian Bell (Warwickshire), Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire), Paul Collingwood (Durham), Steven Davies (Surrey), Graham Onions (Durham), Kevin Pietersen (Hampshire), Liam Plunkett (Durham), Matt Prior (Sussex), Adil Rashid (Yorkshire), Ryan Sidebottom (Nottinghamshire), Graeme Swann (Nottinghamshire), Jonathan Trott (Warwickshire), Luke Wright (Sussex).

One-day squad: Andrew Strauss (Middlesex – captain), James Anderson (Lancashire), Tim Bresnan (Yorkshire), Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire), Paul Collingwood (Durham), Alastair Cook (Essex), Joe Denly (Kent), Sajid Mahmood (Lancashire), Eoin Morgan (Middlesex), Graham Onions (Durham), Kevin Pietersen (Hampshire), Matt Prior (Sussex), Adil Rashid (Yorkshire), Graeme Swann (Nottinghamshire), Jonathan Trott (Warwickshire), Luke Wright (Sussex).

Harmison’s comments owe as much to his pride as his body, the bowler is not content with being a bit part player in the England set up and is frustrated at the way he is treated by the selectors.

In an interview with SkySports, Harmison quite rightly laid it on the line for the England selectors:

“At the end of the day I don’t want to stand in somebody else’s way, to keep getting left out, brought back, left out brought back and people saying we can do with some firepower or we can do with this and do with that when it comes to playing for England, that’s not something I want to be any more.”

Harmison took three second innings wickets in the deciding test at the Oval, helping England to a 2-1 series victory.

He is currently looking forward to helping county side Durham to win back to back championship’s with two games remaining in the season.

Australia in contrast showed tremendous form, seizing the match by the scruff of the neck and but for some controversial lbw dismissals this afternoon would find themselves in the much stronger position their play deserved.

Recalled Stuart Clark bowled excellently for his 3 -18 and Peter Siddle with 5-21 saw off the tail order in spectacular fashion. England contrasted that with a dismal display at the crease, with only Alistair Cook (30) and MattPrior (37) making double figures. The other nine batsmen scoring a dismal eighteen runs between them!

England all out for 102.

Sadly both teams continued to show similar form in their reverse roles. Things did look a little promising when Steve Harmison took the wicket of Kattich at 14 for 1, but England would have to endure another 119 runs being added before capturing another scalp. By that time Australia were firmly in control with a brilliant partnership involving Ponting and Watson.

Watson was the second victim of the day, falling at 133 and then by some act of god England took two more quickly after with Australia at 151 for 4. Clarke (34) and North (7) ended the day for Australia at 196 for 4 and leading the match by 94 runs.

This is going to take something very special indeed for England to get back into the game tomorrow.

jonathan trott england call up

England have called up the uncapped Warwickshire batsman Jonathan Trott, as possible cover for Andrew Fintoff in the fourth Ashes test match at Headingley. Left arm seam bowler Ryan Sidebottom is also recalled to the England squad for the first time in this series.

Sidebottom will join Steve Harmison in the England bowling attack at Headingley at the expense of  Monty Panesar, national selector Geoff Miller explaining that ‘Headingley is not usually a ground where two spinners are required, therefore Panesar misses out on selection this time.’

England are preparing for the worst case scenario with the injury concerns regarding Flintoff. Regardless of the players uplifting claim that he would finish the Ashes series, his last games for England before retiring from test matches, Flintoff has needed pain killing injections to see him through the last two matches.

If Flintoff does remains fit enough to play in the fourth test, Jonathan Trott gives England the added option of playing six batsmen, should the selectors feel it appropriate.

The 28 year old South African born Trott has scored 831 first class runs this season for Warwickshire, with an average of 83. His previous International experience was limited to two Twenty/20 games against the West Indies in 2007 when he scored just eleven runs, but his form with the England Academy in their winter tour of New Zealand has impressed selectors.

Andrew Flintoff has been a major factor in England’s recent one-day success, but he believes that the credit should go to Michael Vaughan’s successor Kevin Pietersen. Andrew Flintoff admits that there is a different atmosphere amongst the squad now and this is having a positive affect on team performances. Ashes betting is even being changed because of the feel good factor.

This all makes sense to me. Michael Vaughan was struggling with the bat during the latter stages of his captaincy and many players may have though to themselves – ‘If our captain can’t do it, how are we supposed to do it?’. This has completely changed under Kevin Pietersen. He is in some of the best batting form of his life and has faith in the rest of his players who are following his excellent example with the bat. Matt Prior, Ian Bell and Owais Shah have all showed signs of good form with the bat and this has come on the back of Kevin Pietersen becoming skipper.

Most importantly for the England cricket team though, Andrew Flintoff is looking back to his best with the bat. Kevin Pietersen has handed the Lancashire all-rounder the responsibility of batting at five and it appears he is revelling in the positivity of his new captain. There has never been any doubt surrounding Andrew Flintoff’s bowling, but if he can continue his excellent batting form it will help England become a force in both forms of international cricket. I’d place a lot more of my cricket betting money on England winning the Ashes next year if Andrew Flintoff is firing all on cylinders.

One of the other key factors behind the excellent start to the new era is, of course, the return of Steve Harmison. Like Andrew Flintoff, it appears that Steve Harmison is enjoying the new captain’s approach very much and England are reaping the awards. There is a doubt about Steve Harmison’s ability to tour this winter, but if anyone can convince him to do so and get him to perform – it’s Kevin Pietersen. Hopefully, in the same way that Nasser Hussain always got the best out of Andrew Caddick, Kevin Pietersen can get the best out of Steve Harmison.

Everyone knows that things will get tougher for Kevin Pietersen in the future. Perhaps he should be judged more after the winter, but at the moment you cannot fault how he is performing in his new role. He has won five matches in a row, has scored plenty of runs himself and is getting the best out of his senior players. All good really isn’t it? England are looking to seal a 5-0 whitewash against South Africa tomorrow and the way things are going, I’m not going to bet against it.

I have mixed feelings as to whether this is a sensible decision from the England selectors. Yes, Steve Harmison has been in fantastic form for Durham – he is the leading wicket taker in the County Championship – but his attitude towards international cricket bothers me. He has always shown a lack of commitment – he is retired from one day international cricket and while on tour for England has often hinted that there a million and one places he would rather be.

It does worry me that even if he performs this summer, he will either not want to tour this winter or he will under perform like he did in New Zealand recently. Should he really be selected if there is a good chance he won’t fancy touring India in November?

I guess the priority has to be winning the third test match against South Africa though and the selectors obviously feel that Steve Harmison is the man to make this happen. I’m not convinced, but I wish his the best. At least Andrew Flintoff will have his best mate back in the team with him.

Other changes to the squad include Paul Collingwood and Ryan Sidebottom returning to replace Chris Tremlett and surprise call-up last time round – Darren Pattinson. I’d put all my cricket betting money on Ryan Sidebottom making the 11 to play at Edgbaston, but Paul Collingwood’s involvement will depend on whether England operate a four or five man bowling attack.

If Paul Collingwood plays it will mean that Tim Ambrose will move down the order to eight and two of Stuart Broad, Steve Harmison, Monty Panesar, Ryan Sidebottom and James Anderson would have to miss out. If Paul Collingwood isn’t recalled, only one of these will miss out and England would have failed to strengthen their batting line up.

The problem at the moment for England is that nobody seems to know what the best team is. After going six test matches with the same side, things are now very uncertain – what exactly is England’s best team?

Well, putting aside the current squad, below is the team I would select given the choice:

Strauss, Cook, Vaughan, Pietersen, Bell, Flintoff, Foster, Broad, Swann, Sidebottom, Anderson.

As for the test match that starts on Wednesday, I expect Collingwood and Sidebottom to play with Stuart Broad and James Anderson missing out. I hope I am wrong though – this would be a negative move in my opinion.