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Harmison plays down cash motive

category: Cricket

22.08.2008 20:52

His return puts him in contention for the Twenty20 match against Stanford's All-Star team on 1 November which could net him £500,000 if England triumph.

But Harmison, who made his return on Friday, told BBC Sport: "I'm not coming back for financial reasons.

"I retired from one-day cricket for cricketing reasons and I'm coming back for cricketing reasons."



Harmison, 29, last played a one-day international for England in October 2006.

After suffering at the hands of Australia in the 2006-07 Ashes, he then publicly announced he had retired from one-day internationals.

Earlier this month he returned to the Test set-up having lost his place earlier in the year in New Zealand because of his poor form.

Harmison's return is also thought to have been down to the influence of new captain Kevin Pietersen, who has made no secret of his admiration for the Durham bowler.

"I'd been told by so many people to try to get Steve Harmison so I though I'd give it a final go," said Pietersen.

"I met up with Steve at the hotel the other day after his game with Notts and he was pretty positive about things.

"He's keen as anything and he and is helping us out of a situation with Ryan (Sidebottom) being injured."

Original text is here

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