England fast bowler Stephen Harmison was today ruled out for the entire
cricket Test series against India as his hernia injury requires immediate
surgery which will keep him out of action for four to six weeks.
Harmison, who was looking to postpone his surgery to play against the touring
Indian side, suffered a recurrence of the injury last week and was yesterday ruled
out of the first Test starting at Lord's on Thursday.
After meeting specialists, it came out that Harmison will have
to go under the knife today itself.
"He's going to have the operation later today. Unfortunately for him the
hernia has come back and now it's all about getting it done as quickly as possible,"
Coach Peter Moores said.
The operation is expected to sideline him for four to six weeks.
The Durham pacer, who retired from one-day internatioal cricket
last winter, sustained the injury during the final Test against West Indies
at Chester-le-Street nearly a month ago.
After conducting tests, the medical staff of the England team,
however, allowed him to play on.
The problem resurfaced during Durham's match against Sussex
last week and he is now set to miss the remainder of England's summer.
His place in England's 13-man squad was filled by Hampshire
pace bowler Chris Tremlett.
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