Harmison yearns for Ashes revenge

Harmison took just 10 wickets in the 5-0 Ashes whitewash

Steve Harmison already has his sights on the next Ashes as he aims to make up for his poor performance in England's recent whitewash in Australia.

But the pace bowler feels he has been unfairly singled out for blame.

"The only way I can get the last Ashes out of my system is to be there on the first morning of the 2009 series with the ball in my hand," he said.

"In fact, I want to go to Australia after that and do some more damage in the following Ashes."

Harmison's first delivery of the Ashes series, a ball that flew wide to slip, set the tone for England's first whitewash at the hands of Australia since 1921.

There's no way I could make any money out of a book after how I performed Steve Harmison

He took just 10 wickets in the five-match series, at an average of 61.40.

But he told the Mail on Sunday: "None of our big players turned up, at least not on a consistent basis and some of us failed to achieve anything at all.

"I'd place myself in that last category but I do feel I've been made a scapegoat and I think, in part, it's because of my perceived laid-back attitude.

"I tried my nuts off to play well, but it didn't happen and it bloody hurts."

All the proceeds from Harmison's Ashes tour diary, which is published in a fortnight, will go to a children's charity, Bubble Foundation UK.

He said: "There's no way I could make any money out of a book after how I performed."

Harmison, who decided to retire from one-day cricket three months before the World Cup, is back in training with his county side Durham.

He insisted he made the right decision, in order to prolong his Test career, but added: "I can't tell you how pleased I'll be if England win the World Cup.

"And if Australia don't rediscover their best form we can do it."