England, seeking to regain the Ashes they lost 5-0 in 2006-07, and Australia meet in the first of five Tests at Cardiff on Wednesday and Harmison will now have to wait for an opportunity later in the series.

“We knew what direction we wanted to go,” national selector Geoff Miller said on Sky Sports. “Graham Onions was picked, on what he’s done over the last two Test matches and his consistency in county cricket as well, ahead of Steve Harmison.”

The selectors showed consistency in their squad choice and opted to keep Harmison’s Durham team-mate Onions in the team after he impressed in his first two matches against West Indies in May.

Harmison, dropped by England during the West Indies tour earlier this year, faced Australia at Worcester last week for the England Lions and troubled the Australian batsmen with his ability to bowl awkward, bouncing deliveries in excess of 90 miles per hour.

Opener Phillip Hughes was dismissed by such a ball from Harmison in both innings for two single figure scores, as the Englishman took four for 80 and two for 55 in the match.

“It was encouraging to see how he bowled but the Ashes is not a sprint, it’s a long marathon. There is a lot of cricket to be played. Steve showed us maybe what they are susceptible to. But we also have other bowlers in that squad who can bowl similar deliveries.” 

Ian Bell was included as the extra batsman, while left-arm spinner Monty Panesar was recalled to give the possibility of playing two slow players at Cardiff, with Graeme Swann the other spinner in the list.

Australia is yet to name its team from the 16-man tour squad. Its main dilemma seems to be whether to choose front-line spinner Nathan Hauritz, who has struggled in the two tour games, or play Stuart Clark as a fourth fast bowler. 

Squad: Andrew Strauss (captain), Alastair Cook, Ravi Bopara, Kevin Pietersen, Paul Collingwood, Matt Prior, Andrew Flintoff, Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, James Anderson, Monty Panesar, Ian Bell, Graham Onions.