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Harmison was axed for the second Test against New Zealand last week and Boycott believes that the misfiring Durham man should be sent back to the county game to get back on track.

He told The Daily Telegraph: "Matthew Hoggard will be back in contention for a place, but Steve Harmison is different. Since the Ashes series of 2005 he has been poor, indifferent to bad.

"He's not got enough wickets and been given so many chances. At his best, he has bounce and pace like Curtly Ambrose, but people have got tired of waiting for results.

"There comes a point when the public and selectors get disillusioned with a guy not delivering. That time has come. England need to move on.

"If he gets a central contract this summer then a lot of us will be screaming favouritism and a total waste of money. England should forget him.

"He needs to go back to Durham on reduced wages and be made to think about what he wants to do with his career. Does he really want to play cricket at all?

"Now England have alternatives, the selectors don't need to give Harmison any more chances."