Harmison slips into top gear

Steve Harmison was back to his scintillating best with a spell of 1-23 at Lord's © Getty Images

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Steve Harmison defied the inevitable wisecrack of “watch out second slip” to begin his post-Ashes rehabilitation with three lively spells for MCC against Sussex at Lord’s.

Harmison finished with 1-23 from 15 overs - but it was not enough to keep Sussex in check as Murray Goodwin cracked 134, his 49th first-class century.

Sussex, replying to the MCC’s first innings total of 425, reached stumps on day two healthily placed on 265 for three.

Harmison endured a torrid time Down Under from the moment he sent the first ball of the series straight to a startled Andrew Flintoff in the slip cordon.

He finished the Ashes with just 10 wickets at an average of more than 61 and admits he began to “hate the game of cricket”.

But after a couple of months out of the spotlight and relaxing with his family, Harmison impressed on Durham’s pre-season tour to South Africa.

The “second slip” jibe came from one of the smattering of spectators at Lord’s - but there was little wrong with Harmison’s radar on his return to first-class cricket.

He bowled at a menacing pace, dropped the ball just short of a length and caught Sussex opener Carl Hopkinson high on the bat with Owais Shah taking the catch at first slip.

Matthew Hoggard bowled his first competitive over since the Ashes series © Getty Images

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When England colleague Matthew Hoggard, also bowling his first ball in anger since the Ashes tour, had Chris Nash caught behind Sussex were reduced to 32 for two.

But on a good day for batting, the county champions mounted an impressive recovery, with Goodwin and Michael Yardy building a stand of 225.

Goodwin reached his century from 142 deliveries but survived a glaring drop at square-leg by Cambridge University all-rounder Zoheb Sharif when on 96.

Ironically, it was to Sharif that Goodwin eventually fell, holing out to deep mid-off as he tried to hit over the top.

Yardy had anchored the partnership with a chanceless innings, bringing up his half-century from 120 deliveries, and will resume in the morning unbeaten on 80.

Earlier in the day, MCC had added 104 for their last four wickets with Yorkshire teenager Adil Rashid scoring 47.

James Kirtley, the pick of the Sussex bowlers, claimed Steven Davies (39) and Hoggard in successive deliveries to finish with 4-71 from 31 overs.