Tough Call to Leave Steve Harmison Out Of Team- - Admitted By England Skipper Andrew Strauss

Skipper Andrew Strauss admits it was a tough call to leave Steve Harmison out of the England Test squad, but insists he was never in a position to guarantee him a starting place.

Harmison was left out of the 16-man squad which will play five Tests and five one-day internationals in South Africa this winter. The 30-year-old played the final two Tests of England's successful Ashes campaign this summer, but was overlooked by the selectors, who opted to take James Anderson, Graham Onions, Stuart Broad, Liam Plunkett and Ryan Sidebottom instead.

Strauss said: "It was very difficult to leave him out. To a certain extent his performances away from home recently also counted against him."

In the lead up to naming the squad Harmison indicated he did not want to tour Australia in 2010/2011.

He also said he would consider announcing his formal retirement from international cricket if England did not give assurances he would be more than a "bit-part" player.

That stance, along with his inconsistent form, has led the selectors to leave out the man who was ranked as the world's number one bowler in 2004.

When asked whether Harmison's demands to play regularly had cost him his place, Strauss added: "I didn't speak to him about that. I'm not sure whether he was quoted accurately or not. But at this stage we are not prepared to guarantee him a place in the side.

"We are not in a position to make guarantees to any player about playing in the final XI. You have to earn the right to play in that XI and that's the way it should be."

Harmison is now considering his future in international cricket following the decision. Strauss is adamant that the door remains open for the paceman should he decide to continue playing although he thinks England's bowling attack is shaping up nicely without him.

"It's a shame that he's not with us but from now on it's up to him whether he's going to make those steps to get back in to the team," the 32-year-old said. "It would have been nice to have a guy like Steve Harmison at his best but unfortunately he has not been quite at his best."