At a time when Harris is in contract talks at Glamorgan – the Pontarddulais product has one year left on his current deal – this squad announcement could be bad news for the Welsh county. Harris has made no secret of his desire to win England honours and his omission might be seen as more fashionable counties once again getting preferential treatment. However, Harris could still yet win a place on the England Lions tour to the West Indies in the new year.
Glamorgan director of cricket Matthew Maynard recently said: “We need to keep James at the club.
“He has had a fantastic season and he has been our lead seam bowler.
“He will be an England player, but we want him to be a Glamorgan England player.”
Meanwhile, England’s chairman of selectors Geoff Miller has revealed that Monty Panesar’s success in reinventing himself at Sussex led to his inclusion in the Ashes squad.
Panesar and Chris Tremlett were named in an otherwise predictable 16-man party, led by Andrew Strauss, bound for Australia.
The 28-year-old Panesar made the last of his 39 Test appearances in the opening match of the 2009 Ashes before being dropped amid a significant loss of form.
But Miller believes he has been revitalised by his move from Northamptonshire to Sussex, taking 52 first-class wickets for his new county this summer.
“Monty went away and developed his game because, obviously, he was having a bad time,” said Miller.
“We told him what he needed to do, he joined a new county and has produced the goods for them this year.
“He’s a quality spinner. He just needed to go away when he was having problems and resurrect his career, which he’s done.
“Monty’s developed as a person. There were times when you thought he wasn’t thinking for himself but that’s changed.
“He’s been given the onus at Sussex to set his fields, have conversations with the captain and coach and has developed as a player and person.
“He’s been to Australia before and did well there once he got into the side, so he’s used to the conditions.”
Miller insisted England had no hesitation in selecting Kevin Pietersen, who will begin a spell at former club KwaZulu Natal next month in an attempt to regain his form in time for the Ashes.
“We know what a great player Kevin is. He’s had a lull in form, but lots of great players have lulls in form,” said Miller.
“He wants to put that right and get some time in the middle. That was accepted and we’ve left him to it.
“When it comes to playing Australia, he’ll be up for the challenge.”
England will be bidding to win the Ashes in Australia for the first time since Mike Gatting’s class of 1987 and Miller believes the current team is just as strong.
“Yes I think this squad is as good as Gatting’s. It’s a solid squad with match-winners all the way down,” said Miller.
“If they all perform to potential, there’s no reason why we can’t retain the Ashes.”
England announced their squad for Australia on the same day Pakistan returned home following a controversial tour marred by claims of spot-fixing.
England and Wales Cricket Board managing director Hugh Morris hopes the Ashes will restore cricket’s reputation, though he confirmed that an apology is still being demanded from Pakistan board chairman Ijaz Butt for alleging that England’s players accepted a bribe to lose the third one-day international at The Brit Oval.
“As far as the players and management team are concerned, the series against Pakistan finished yesterday,” said Morris.
“All of our attention is now focused on going to Australia. In terms of the recent issues, we will be seeking a resolution to that.
“We were extremely disappointed by the totally unfounded allegations that were made and are expecting an apology.”
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