Australia's Glenn McGrath, arguably the world's best fast bowler during the past decade, said he expected England's Stephen Harmison to play a major role in the forthcoming Ashes Tests after both men starred in Saturday's tied Triangular Series one-day final here at Lord's.
APPROPRIA:
tely, in a match that finished all square, the two key quicks each finished with returns of three for 27 from 10 overs, although McGrath had four maidens to Harmison's two.
At one stage during England's last tour of Australia in 2002-03, Harmison could barely complete his run-up. But he has since become a central member of an England side that has now won its last five Test series, his height and pace making him an awkward proposition for even the world's best batsmen.
And he has also starred in one-day cricket, his haul Saturday against the world champions, making him the leading bowler in the Triangular with 15 wickets at a miserly average of just over 15 apiece.
Now England fans will be hoping that the 26-year-old 6ft 4" Durham paceman can stay fit for the three upcoming one-dayers against Australia and the Ashes Tests, which start at Lord's on July 22.
"I think Harmy is a class bowler," McGrath, 35, told reporters after Saturday's match. "There's no doubt about that and I think he's one of the main reasons England have improved over the last 18 months and one of the reasons why they've been so successful.
"To have a bowler bowling at that pace with that lift and bounce, it's got to give the rest of the team confidence."
However, there were fears Harmison had gone off the boil following a disappointing series in South Africa during the northern winter.
But England captain Michael Vaughan said: "I thought Harmy today was, as he has been throughout the whole series, outstanding. Just because you have a couple of bad games in the winter doesn't make you a bad bowler."
Australia's new-ball bowlers though, who face England again at Headingley on Thursday, could be pleased with their work against the hosts' top order.
In particular the remorselessly accurate McGrath appeared to re-assert the dominance he'd enjoyed in previous contests against Marcus Trescothick, whom he dismissed once more Saturday.
And England's other left-handed opener Andrew Strauss, whom McGrath played alongside at Middlesex, also struggled - especially against the express pace of Brett Lee. "If you look at these three matches, our opening bowlers have been pretty successful against Strauss and Trescothick," said McGrath. "They've been another key as to why England have played so well, setting a foundation, so that's one positive we'll take out of this series." But a more worrying note all-round came early in England's innings when Lee sent down a 'beamer' an illegal, head-high full-toss at Trescothick.
In the past Lee has been accused of bowling cricket's most dangerous delivery deliberately, a charge the 28-year-old New South Welsman has always vehemently denied.
Ponting, concerned about the impact any fresh controversy might have on his fastest bowler, insisted this latest beamer had been accidental.
"I had a look at where he landed, you could see where his front foot was slipping.
"It knocked the confidence out of him straight away. After that beamer he was holding back within himself because he just can't keep his front foot. "It's just a really difficult thing for Brett. Someone running in that fast, bowling that fast, if you can't keep yout front foot, it's going to happen every now and then. "I'm not trying to defend it but if you could slow it down and have a look at his front foot you'd understand. There were no hard feelings, everyone just go on with it."