Cricket: England face Harmison risk as bowling hits crisis.

ENGLAND coach Peter Moores admits there will have to be something of a selection punt for the second Test against Sri Lanka.

With swing bowler Matthew Hoggard almost certainly ruled out of the match, which begins at the SSC tomorrow, the tourists are likely to choose either Steve Harmison, whose international performances have been erratic of late, or Stuart Broad, untried at this level.

Although there is one more net session to go, Moores is prepared for the fact that Hoggard, who batted but could not bowl yesterday, "is not going to be fit".

Twenty-nine-year-old Harmison has in excess of 200 Test wickets, having once been rated the best bowler on the planet, but has recently struggled to muster the menace that shot him there.

Broad, 21, has yet to make his Test bow but would add depth to the batting and was a success here in the one-day series.

"Whenever you play someone in a Test match you never quite know," said Moores.

"Certainly with Steve or Stuart there will always be an element of risk on how they handle the situation.

"Ultimately the real challenge for Steve will be when he pulls an England shirt on and plays for his country again," he added.

"He will have questions about himself which he will want to answer, if he gets the opportunity in the second Test.

"Steve is an experienced Test cricketer; we know instantly we have got someone who creates bounce and creates pressure, somebody that they won't like to face because they know of his reputation."

Injuries and loss of confidence have hampered Harmison in the past two years, and if selected England will be hoping for the 2005 version that cut Ricky Ponting's cheek rather than the one which sent down that wide to begin last winter's Ashes.

England have taken a cautious approach to his return to the squad, dispatching him to South Africa to prove form and fitness before arriving here.

Selected for the victory over a Sri Lankan second string last month ahead of Broad, his participation lasted just 63 deliveries before back a spasm struck.

Concerns over Broad are whether his 6ft 7ins body, still growing until recently, can cope with the demands of three spells a day in consecutive days.

He came close to a Test debut in the summer against India but lost out to Chris Tremlett but earnt his place in the original 15-man party after being England's second most prolific bowler in the 3-2 one-day victory over Sri Lanka.

Yorkshire's Hoggard, the most impressive of the tourists' attack in the 88-run defeat in Kandy, took part in a gym session and batted at the Premadasa Stadium but did not risk aggravating the damaged facet joints in his back by turning the arm over.

Former county colleague Ryan Sidebottom was excused training due to a cold while another of the pacemen James Anderson has a slight ankle niggle.

The fragility of Kevin Pietersen's right hand means he will wear a cast over his little finger when fielding.

After incurring a fracture earlier in the week, the 27-year-old yester day batted without painkillers for the first time.

COLLATED SUMMARIES: Fourth One Day International Bulawayo Zimbabwe 232-9 Innings Complete (V Sibanda 96, H Masakadza 80, J E Taylor 5-48) v West Indies 234-5 (R S Morton 79, M N Samuels 62) West Indies beat Zimbabwe by 5 wkts

TODAY: Third Test Match (day 1 of 5) (S) Bangalore: India v Pakistan (04.00) (S) indicates Sunday play TOMORROW: Fifth One Day International (1 day) Bulawayo: Zimbabwe v West Indies (07.30) Second Test Match (day 1 of 5) Colombo: Sri Lanka v England (05.00)

The real challenge for Steve will be when he pulls an England shirt on and plays for his country again PETER MOORES

CAPTION(S):

England coach Peter Moores talks to Matthew Hoggard during a nets session in Colombo yesterday; Steve Harmison