Steve Harmison has been included in England's 14-man squad for the second Ashes Test as cover for Andrew Flintoff, who has a knee injury.
Flintoff doubtful for Lord's due to knee injury
England have added Steve Harmison to their squad for the second Test against Australia at Lord's as cover for Andrew Flintoff.
Flintoff twisted his right knee during the drawn series opener in Cardiff and will undergo a scan later on Monday to assess the extent of the problem.
With doubts over the Lancashire all-rounder's fitness, Harmison is named in a 14-man party for the Lord's Test, which starts on Thursday.
The 13 players in the first-Test squad are all retained.
Harmison was dropped after the third Test of England's tour of West Indies in February but has since produced some strong displays in county cricket for Durham.
The 30-year-old also impressed for the England Lions in their tour match against Australia at the start of July, claiming six wickets in the match including Phil Hughes in each innings.
Escape
The hosts escaped from Cardiff with a draw after batting out the final day. Last-wicket pair James Anderson and Monty Panesar survived the final 69 deliveries to secure the stalemate.
National selector Geoff Miller, however, admitted England need to improve at Lord's.
"It required a tremendous effort to save the first npower Test match and no praise can be high enough for the fighting qualities shown by Paul Collingwood together with our lower order batsmen," said Miller.
"Their application at the crease and determination to get the job done was first-rate
"We are well aware, however, that we did not perform well in Cardiff over the five days and will need to improve in all areas of our game if we are to overcome what is a strong Australian side.
"We have added Stephen Harmison to our squad for the next Test match as Andrew Flintoff injured his right knee at Cardiff and will undergo a precautionary scan later today.
"Andrew is experiencing soreness and swelling in the knee which he twisted while in the field and he will be reassessed by the medical staff over the next forty eight hours leading up to the Test Match on Thursday.
Similar
"In the event of Andrew being unfit, we see Stephen as a like for like replacement in terms of the type of bowler he is and his ability to unsettle the opposition batsmen with pace and bounce.
"But we will need to consider all our options carefully when we come to determine the make-up of our bowling attack at Lord's and the final decision will depend on our assessment of the pitch and the likely overhead conditions."
Flintoff, 31, underwent surgery on his right knee in April to repair damaged cartilage.
He suffered the injury while playing for the Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League but had worked his way back to fitness for the start of the Ashes.
England squad: A Strauss (capt), J Anderson, I Bell, R Bopara, S Broad, P Collingwood, A Cook, A Flintoff, S Harmison, G Onions, M Panesar, K Pietersen, M Prior (wkt), G Swann
