London, July 25: Injury-ravaged England pacer Steve Harmison is all set to retire from international cricket after the ongoing Ashes series against Australia. According to a report in the Daily Mirror, Harmison will "follow his best friend Andrew Flintoff by announcing his retirement from Test cricket after the Ashes."

The 30-year-old, who retired from one-day cricket in 2007, is reportedly tired of the numerous injury breakdowns that have marred his career. He will, however, continue playing for his county side Durham.

Harmison has 221 Test wickets, making him the 11th highest wicket-taker for England. However, loss of form and fitness issues have meant that he has been selected for only four of the last 20 Tests played by England.

Harmison is certain to be included in the 13-member team for the third Ashes Test starting July 30 in Edgbaston. England lead the series 1-0 after having won the second Test at Lord’s.

Punter won’t be fooled

Australian skipper Ricky Ponting is determined not to be fooled by Edgbaston’s ‘jelly’ pitch report that similarly had ruined their Ashes dreams four years ago and said he would better wait and watch this time.

In the 2005 Ashes series, Ponting was flayed for bowling first without injured pacer Glenn McGrath after concerns that heavy rain would make the pitch a minefield. Four years down the line, Ponting finds himself in a similar situation with Edgbaston’s groundsman Steve Rouse claiming that heavy rain has delayed preparation of the pitch for the third Test and the wicket is a bit like a jelly.

But the Australia skipper said this time he will assess the pitch early next week before forming any notion. "That’s what we got told last time. That’s the reason we ended up bowling first in 2005," Ponting was quoted as saying in the Herald Sun. "We were told exactly the same thing for the week leading up. There had been a cyclone and a tornado that had gone through Birmingham and wicket preparation was miles behind. It was overcast on that day so we won the toss and bowled. And the thing (the ball) didn’t move off the straight for the whole day.

"I’m not sure I’ll be falling for that one this time around. We’ll wait and see," added the Australian skipper.

Ponting is currently on a three-day tour match against Northampton county team and would travel to Birmingham on Sunday. — PTI