London, Dec 20 : Steve Harmison has been dropped from the team once again, putting a question mark on his international career as England's leading fast bowler.

Harmison's much-heralded comeback under new captain Kevin Pietersen lasted only two Tests before he was carrying the drinks again in Mohali, the Daily Express reported.

England's frustration with their talented but unreliable strike bowler became obvious in the first Test against India, when he bowled only six overs on the last day in Chennai as they desperately sought a breakthrough.

The consequence was that, with Stuart Broad fit again to return, Harmison was dropped, just as he was after the first Test of 2008 in New Zealand.

Pietersen said then: "I've had a great relationship with him over the years, there's a lot of trust there and I think the big man will deliver for us. When you are confident of your place in the team things roll into one. Harmy has been left out for a while and has that energy to play for England again."

Harminson then brought himself out of one-day retirement and impressed again in a 4-0 series romp over South Africa with the `Harmy is Back' headlines writ large.

But disappointingly for England and Harmison, the feel good factor was short-lived. Two matches into the one-day series in India he was dropped and now he is out of the Test team, too.

England will almost certainly pick Harmison for the January tour of the Caribbean, where he has had success, but they will do so without any real conviction, the paper said.

"Steve's disappointed to be left out but our job is to pick the best side. It does not mean he won't be England's premier strike bowler again or not play in the next Test," Coach Peter Moores said. (ANI)