Graphic: England's opening gambit

The latest evidence of Kevin Pietersen's inspirational qualities as a captain emerged when Stephen Harmison renounced his retirement from one-day internationals and came straight into the England squad for the opening game of the five-match NatWest Series against South Africa at Headingley Carnegie today.

Eleven days ago, at lunch on the final day of Harmison's successful return to the Test side at the Brit Oval, Pietersen had asked the Durham fast bowler to reconsider his decision to opt out of one-day matches for England and had been told: “We will see.” Yesterday, however, when Ryan Sidebottom was ruled out of today's game with a groin injury, a further entreaty was made. And like a cricketing disciple, Harmison fell under Pietersen's messianic spell and agreed to follow where the new leader treads.

Last night, he drove down the A1 from his home in Ashington, Northumberland, to join the England squad at their hotel in Leeds. “It's something I have been thinking about for a period of time,” Harmison said. “I decided to retire from England's one-day team for a number of reasons, one being the amount of time I was spending away from my family. Now that my family is settled and my bowling is settled, I feel that I have something to offer England's one-day side.”

Unlikely as it would have seemed only a couple of weeks ago, Harmison is likely to be selected for the England team for the floodlit game at Headingley this afternoon. Although Tim Bresnan had already been brought into the squad as cover for Sidebottom and Chris Tremlett, who has a heel injury, Pietersen clearly felt that he needed another strike bowler.

Harmison, 29, retired from one-day internationals in December 2006 in Perth after England had lost the third Test and the Ashes after going 3-0 down. In 46 limited-overs games for England, he has taken 67 wickets at an average of 30.70.

If he plays today, Harmison will probably bowl as first change. After England's victory at the Oval, Pietersen had said: “It would be lovely to have Steve as first change for us with the white ball, but you don't get everything you want in life.” At the moment, it seems, Pietersen is not missing out on much.

His first Test after replacing Michael Vaughan as captain coincided with Harmison's return to the England side after a five-month absence. Pietersen made it his mission to bolster the fast bowler's notoriously fragile confidence and Harmison responded impressively, taking two key wickets in each innings as the new captain began his reign with a victory.

After England had practised indoors at Headingley yesterday, Andrew Flintoff spoke of the impact that Pietersen is having on the squad. “He's stamping his own character on the job and there's been a really nice feel about the camp this week,” the England all-rounder said. “He's confident, he's single-minded, he's an aggressive bloke and he'll bring that to the team.”

Since he was dropped by England in New Zealand in March, Harmison has rediscovered his passion for the game playing for Durham and, with it, his best form. As well as his 43 wickets in the LV County Championship, he has taken 27 wickets in one-day cricket at an average of 18.44.

If England decide that he is ready to make an immediate return, Bresnan could make way. Alternatively, Luke Wright or Ravi Bopara may step down from the side that started the washout against Scotland on Monday.

England will be facing a South Africa team who are nestled behind Australia at the top of the ICC world one-day rankings. If they can secure a 4-1 series victory over England, who are ranked No7, they will move to the top, although Graeme Smith, the captain, said that his side may struggle at the start of the series.

“We're a bit undercooked in one-day cricket,” he said. “Our preparation hasn't been ideal because of the weather. Going to the gym and watching the Olympics is about all we've been able to do. Our battle will be to get ourselves into the series.” Now that they have Harmison to face, that battle could be tougher still.