Harmison returns to training

Steve Harmison © Getty Images

Buy this photo

Steve Harmison's swift recovery from his strained left side appeared on course today when he joined England's busy warm-up session at Adelaide Oval before the start of the third day's play in the tour match against South Australia.

Wearing a baseball glove on his left hand, Harmison was the right-arm thrower and coach Duncan Fletcher the left-handed hitter for slips-catching drills.

© Getty Images

Buy this photo

Later, Harmison had some long-distance throwing and catching with team-mates - and while he never broke into a gallop as the long session wound down, there was nothing suspect about the power of his arm.

England's team management had been anxious about whether he would have any lingering soreness from bowling in the nets yesterday.

The fast bowler was set to have another work-out later on Sunday as he seeks to prove his fitness in time for the start of the Ashes series in Brisbane on Thursday, having pulled out of this final warm-up fixture.