England lack firepower - Boycott

Harmison and Jones last played together in a Test 10 months ago

Geoff Boycott says the absence of Steve Harmison and Simon Jones was one of the main reasons England could only draw the Test series against Sri Lanka.

The hosts struggled to polish off the Sri Lankan tail at Lord's and Trent Bridge without the two pace bowlers.

"We are missing a bit of pace - the loss of Steve Harmison and Simon Jones has hurt us," ex-England star Boycott said in his BBC sport website column.

"You need a wrist spinner or pace to put the fear of God into tail-enders."

England drafted in Saj Mahmood and Liam Plunkett for the first two Tests, while Jon Lewis was brought in for Mahmood at Trent Bridge.

We don't have the quality in depth - the young players are not the Real McCoy yet Geoff Boycott Read more: Geoff Boycott column in full

But Boycott says they have failed to provide adequate cover for Harmison and Jones, who were part of the strong pace attack which helped win the Ashes last year.

Jones missed the tour of Pakistan with an ankle problem, and broke down early in India with a knee injury.

He is seeing a specialist in the USA after another knee problem while playing for Glamorgan earlier this season.

Harmison (shin) has not played for his country since the second Test in India but is expected to return for the one-dayers against Sri Lanka.

"We only had one guy with pace (at Trent Bridge), Flintoff, who was half-injured," former opening batsman Boycott added.

"We don't have the quality in depth. Yes it's an opportunity for young players but they are not the Real McCoy yet.

"Harmison has real firepower but fast-medium doesn't hurt anybody unless there's juice in the pitch."