Graphic: the Battle for the Ashes

“Daisy” was a nickname given to Peter Hartley, the former Yorkshire and Warwickshire fast bowler, because some days he did, and some days he didn't.

Since 2005, Stephen Harmison has been the biggest “daisy” in the paddock, his inconsistencies never better illustrated than during the opening sessions of the past two Ashes series.

That, then, is the conundrum facing the England selectors, after another impressive new-ball display from Harmison for the England Lions, as they debate this weekend whether to place their faith in the enigmatic fast bowler once again.

Harmison started this match behind Graham Onions and Ryan Sidebottom in the pecking order, but, having followed his four wickets in the Australians' first innings with two more early in the second, he must be pushing very hard for a berth in Cardiff on Wednesday.

Principally, this is because of the way he dismissed Australia's wunderkind, Phillip Hughes, for the second time in the game. Bounced out in the first innings, Hughes was bounced out again, although this time the fast bowler's angle was from round the wicket.

The result was the same, though, Hughes punching a catch to slip. Over the wicket, round the wicket, Hughes has not looked at all comfortable against the short ball. What were they bowling at him in the second division of the county championship when he was playing for Middlesex at the beginning of this summer?

There is no question that Hughes, 20, is an outstanding young player, but a reputation of struggling against the short ball is not one - out of self-preservation - that an opening batsman wants to cultivate.

Since the carrier pigeons will have already delivered the news to Edgbaston and beyond, it is an issue he must deal with. Graeme Hick, remember, was thought to have no vulnerabilities until West Indies dusted him over.

Harmison added the wicket of Ricky Ponting, for good measure, the Australia captain searching for a wide ball for the second time in the match, edging this time around to gully rather than slip.

It is not just the lack of runs that has put an extra furrow in his brow during this game: for much of the time it has not been apparent who is the international team and who are the team of hopefuls.

At least, an unbeaten century for Marcus North and runs for Michael Clarke enabled the Australians to finish the day in a strong position.

Australians: First Innings 358 (M E K Hussey 150, S M Katich 95; S J Harmison 4 for 80)

Second Innings
P J Hughes c Morgan b Harmison 8
S M Katich c Moore b Rashid 37
*R T Ponting c Rashid b Harmison 15
M J North not out 106
M J Clarke c Onions b Solanki 80
M E K Hussey not out 11
Extras (b 11, lb 7, nb 1) 19
Total (4 wkts, 73 overs) 276
Fall of wickets: 1-17, 2-41, 3-90, 4-260.
Bowling: Onions 15-2-49-0; S J Harmison 12-3-36-2; Mahmood 14-2-40-0; Bresnan 12-4-41-0; A U Rashid 16-1-73-1; Solanki 3-0-15-1; Denly 1-0-4-0.

England Lions: First Innings (overnight 302-6)
A U Rashid c Hussey b Clark 66
T T Bresnan b Johnson 5
S I Mahmood b Lee 0
S J Harmison not out 7
G Onions c Hughes b Clark 8
Extras (b 5, lb 2, nb 8) 15
Total (96 overs) 352
Fall of wickets: 1-172, 2-172, 3-198, 4-209, 5-209, 6-295, 7-315, 8-316, 9-344.
Bowling: Johnson 26-1-118-1; Lee 27-6-76-6; Clark 16-2-40-2; Hauritz 18-1-80-0; Clarke 4-0-15-0; North 5-1-16-1.
Umpires: J H Evans and J W Lloyds.