STEVE Harmison has slammed the ECB for their treatment of Durham team-mate Graham Onions after the fast bowler was prevented from playing against Warwickshire today.
Onions played for the England Lions against Sri Lanka last week, missing Durham’s win at Worcestershire, but was left out of the England squad for the first Test in Cardiff after failing to do enough in that game to break back into the senior side.
However the 28-year-old, who returned from a career-threatening back surgery last month, has also been told he is not allowed to play for Durham in the County Championship this week after his Lions effort.
That has infuriated Durham and Harmison – who has never been afraid to speak his mind on such matters – was quick to attack the decision, which he feels is punishing Onions more than anyone else.
“It’s a massive mistake not to let him play for Durham,” said Harmison, who returned to his county’s attack last week and took seven wickets in the match at Worcester.
“If he was in the England squad, even as cover, fair enough, we don’t have any say. But to leave him out of the England squad and then stop him playing for Durham, that’s double standards.
“If he had got four or five wickets in an innings for the Lions, England would have picked him and they would have played him against Sri Lanka. What’s the difference between Durham playing him against Warwickshire? That’s not right.
“Graham should have come back and he would have been a massive performer for us. I remember him playing at Edgbaston a couple of years ago and he was unbelievable in that game.
“I think that was the game Graham really started to believe he was good enough to play for England – and he has proved he is.
“He has worked so hard over the winter; he deserves to be in the England squad. To leave him out and then stop the kid from playing for his county, I can’t believe it.
“If he was ready to play for the Lions, he was ready to play for England in my opinion, maybe I’m biased, but that’s my honest opinion. Behind Anderson and Broad, he’s the best we’ve got.
“To not let him play for Durham, it makes no sense. You’re punishing Graham more than anything.”
