Harmison has 'nothing to prove'

If I'm fit and firing I don't think there's anyone in the country who can do what I can do Steve Harmison

Steve Harmison says he has 'nothing to prove' in the first Test at Lord's despite enduring a tough winter when he misfired badly in the Ashes series.

He is refreshed after giving up one-day internationals, and has 24 wickets in three championship matches for Durham.

He defended his Test record overall, saying: "I've got nothing to prove to anyone. I've taken nearly 200 wickets.

"My poor form got blown out of all proportion because the first ball of the Ashes went to second slip."

Harmison, 28, took just 10 wickets in the 5-0 Ashes drubbing, and said: "You have to come back from bad times, it's what makes you stronger.

"I'm not coming back to prove a point, I'm coming back to back Andrew Strauss as captain and stick by him and whatever he wants me to do I'll do it."

Harmison has taken 40 wickets in eight Tests against West Indies, England's opponents at Lord's.

He has bowled 156 first-class overs already this season and said: "People have criticised me for not playing county cricket, but I've done that now and I've bowled my overs.

"There are quite a few reasons why I stopped playing one-day international cricket and one of the reasons was that if I'm going to play Test cricket I wanted to build up by bowling overs."

He said his early season numbers had backed up his decision: "I've consistently bowled at a lively pace in good areas and I think the statistics speak for themselves."

Harmison also claims to have regained a self-belief which was shattered in the aftermath of the Ashes and left him questioning his future in international cricket.

He admitted: "I think everyone came back from Australia slightly concerned about their England futures, but I've always backed my ability and my chances.

"I've never been big-headed or shouted my name from the roof-tops, but I do know that if I'm fit and firing I don't think there's anyone in the country who can do what I can do."

Harmison will play his 50th Test on Thursday. Skipping the World Cup allowed him to be a part-time captain for Durham during their pre-season tour of Cape Town.