England leave out bowler Harmison

Steve Harmison - England's most dangerous pace option

Durham paceman Steve Harmison has not been named in England's squad of 12 for the second Test against Sri Lanka.

Harmison did not bowl on the final day of his county's match against Nottinghamshire on Sunday.

He has taken two wickets in 25 overs since beginning his comeback from a shin injury which forced him to make an early return from India.

The only change from the last Test squad is that there is no place for the extra batsman, Warwickshire's Ian Bell.

Interview: Chairman of selectors David Graveney

The first Test of three was drawn, with the next match starting on Thursday at Edgbaston now a must-win game for both teams.

Jon Lewis seems likely to miss out yet again Jonathan Agnew More: column in full

England chairman of selectors David Graveney said it would have been desirable to have Harmison available if he had been firing on all cylinders.

He told Five Live's Sportsweek: "England are a better team with [Harmison] in it - but you have to make sure you don't force nature.

"Though Steve is fit, it is questionable whether he is match fit.

"So the selectors have decided it is prudent for him to play a little bit more cricket for Durham and we'll monitor that."

One opportunity for Harmison to show his credentials was blighted on Sunday when Durham's C&G Trophy match at Worcester was abandoned without a ball being bowled.

Graveney said he was not unduly concerned by England's failure to win the first Test at Lord's despite being totally dominant for two-and-a-half days.

He said: "There were some excellent individual performances.

We want the guys to go out there and say 'yes I want the ball and I'm going to catch it' David Graveney

"You can't get away from nine dropped catches in any form of cricket let alone a Test match.

"I think it is just one of those things and people lose a bit of confidence.

"We made a mistake but the key is not to make a big issue of it because we want the guys to go out there and say 'yes I want the ball and I'm going to catch it.' "

Jon Lewis faces the agony of missing out on a Test debut for the second time in two matches, despite some superb form for Gloucestershire.

His best hope of playing would be if England drop their spinner Monty Panesar to go in with an all-seam attack.

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England squad: A Flintoff (capt), M Trescothick, A Strauss, A Cook, K Pietersen, P Collingwood, G Jones (wkt), L Plunkett, M Hoggard, S Mahmood, M Panesar, J Lewis.