Cricket: Harmison's ready to fight all the way.

Byline: By RICHARD GIBSON

STEVE HARMISON has vowed to scrap for his England shirt, after finally getting his chance to stake a claim to end a five-month Test absence.

His first spell, delayed by a missing kit-bag, proved expensive as the Sri Lanka Cricket Board President's XI stacked up 500-5 declared at Colombo Cricket Club yesterday.

Although he and bowling coach Ottis Gibson arrived yesterday, the most crucial part of Harmison's luggage did not because of a computer failure in Dubai - which meant he did not have any bowling boots when play began on the second day of the opening tour match.

They were eventually delivered to the Colombo Cricket Club - after being held up in transit from South Africa - in mid-afternoon.

"When we landed I thought it was a wind-up, because the only bag that didn't come off was the cricket bag - and we had seven bags between us," said Harmison.

Within minutes of tour manager Phil Neale handing over the boots in question, Harmison began a spell of 6-0-48-0 - which stretched either side of tea and was made costly by overstepping on half-a-dozen occasions.

Diminutive wicketkeeper Kaushal Silva's love of pulling short-of-a-length deliveries was also costly.

Before 2.30pm, Harmison was restricted to bowling in the indoor nets between fielding stints.

"What will be will be," the 29-year-old later reasoned, assessing his prospects of forcing his way into the team for the first Test in Kandy a week on Saturday.

"I have come across here to fight for my place.

"I have not got the shirt, it was June when I last played.

"All I can do is fight. I am not going to tell lies - if it is good enough and I am ready I will be playing on December 1. If it's not then the people who have earned the place will keep their place in the side.

"I just wanted the chance to go to South Africa and prove to everybody I want to play for England.

"There are a lot of people who have doubted me - but all I want to do is play for England, whether it is home or abroad."

Wickets once again proved hard to come by on a benign surface - and Upul Tharanga, Chamara Kapugedera and Thilina Kandamby all cashed in with hundreds.

The President's XI then called it a day, moments before rain brought a premature end to play for the second time in 24 hours.

With wet weather predicted for the next fortnight, England's attack at least got the chance to get overs under the belt and work out the feasibility of swinging the ball.

But whether they will call on the pace of Harmison for the first Test remains to be seen.

SUMMARIES Tour Match, Colombo: Board President's XI 500-5 dec (C K Kapugedera 141, W U Tharanga 112, S H T Kandamby 107 no, J K Silva 54 no) v England.

TODAY (04.00 unless stated) First Test Match (day 1 of 5) (S) Delhi: India v Pakistan Tour Match (day 3 of 3) Colombo: Board President's XI v England (05.00) (S) indicates Sunday play

CAPTION(S):

Steve Harmison yesterday