Round-Up: Durham help Harmison put feet up

Steve Harmison spent a second successive day sat in the dressing room as his Durham team-mates made the champions Nottinghamshire work hard for their wickets in the First Division of the County Championship at Trent Bridge yesterday.

Harmison, who is hoping to prove his match fitness to the England selectors, could only sit and watch as Durham finished day two on 332 for 6, with Gordon Muchall top-scoring with 88.

In the Second Division, Mark Ramprakash continued his excellent early-season form with another century as Surrey declared on 501 for 7 against Worcestershire at the Oval. In reply, the visitors had reached 55 without loss by stumps.

At Derby, centuries from Steve Stubbings and Travis Birt helped the home side reach 399 for 6 at the end of day two against Leicestershire.

On the international front, the Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar, out of action with a knee injury since February, has been included in a preliminary squad for this year's England tour after undergoing surgery. The selectors also recalled pace bowler Mohammad Sami in a squad of 21 who will attend a training camp from 25 May.