England speedster Steve Harmison has said that he will defy the pain due to a side strain and give the best in his nation's Ashes defence, starting in Brisbane on Thursday.
Harmison, who will be crucial for the England in the Ashes battle, has promised captain and close friend Andrew Flintoff that he will push through the injury and bowl as many overs needed from him.
"I won't do anything foolish, because this first Test is just too huge for me to let Fred go in with only 10 fit players. But, as long as the medical people say my condition won't get worse by playing, I will take any painkiller they want me to, and I will get myself on the field," the 28-year-old was quoted as saying by The Age.
"Once I am out there, I will bowl as much as they want me to, for as long as they want me to. I am desperate to play in this match and in the whole series. The way I am feeling now, it will take a hell of a lot to stop me," he said.
Harmison, after bowling 15 overs at team mates Alastair Cook and Andrew Strauss at nets in the Adelaide Oval yesterday, said he had recovered well and critics like former captain Nasser Hussain were wrong to question his commitment.
{{/usCountry}}Harmison, after bowling 15 overs at team mates Alastair Cook and Andrew Strauss at nets in the Adelaide Oval yesterday, said he had recovered well and critics like former captain Nasser Hussain were wrong to question his commitment.
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