Steve Harmison has bowed to pressure from England's management and agreed to make a dramatic reversal of his decision to retire from one-day international cricket.

The 29-year-old Durham fast bowler has been named in England's squad for the opening match of the NatWest Series against South Africa at Headingley on Friday after a hip injury ruled out Ryan Sidebottom from the day-night encounter.

If he is selected for the opener to the five-match series, it will be his first appearance in England's blue one-day uniform since making his decision to retire and spend more time with his family following the 2006-07 Ashes tour.

Harmison played the last of his 46 one-day internationals during the 2006 Champions Trophy in India and, if successful during the series against South Africa, could force his way into England's plans for the lucrative Twenty20 match against Sir Allen Stanford's All Stars in Antigua on November 1.

His change of heart follows a personal request from new captain Kevin Pietersen, which was followed up by another from coach Peter Moores, following Harmison's impressive return to Test cricket in the final Test at the Oval a few weeks ago.

"After recently being asked by the England management to reassess my retirement from international one-day cricket I've decided to join England's squad for the NatWest Series after careful consideration," revealed Harmison.

"It's something I have been thinking about for a period of time and due to recent injuries in the England camp the opportunity has arisen for me to play a role in this series."

England remain hopeful Sidebottom, who has taken over the role as spearhead of the one-day side in Harmison's absence, will recover in time for Tuesday's second match in the series but until then will welcome the return of Harmison to strengthen their bowling resources.

Harmison said: "I decided to retire from England's ODI team for a number 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 I have something to offer England's ODI side and am looking forward to playing a part in the NatWest Series against South Africa.

"Having missed out on (Test) selection at various times this year I am well aware of the disappointment that comes from not being a part of the England dressing room.

"With that in mind I want to be a part of the team and if that means bringing myself out of retirement to play a role in this upcoming NatWest Series then I'm happy to do just that.

"At the moment my focus is on doing well in the ODIs against South Africa and I'm not looking beyond that at this stage."

England have seven one-day internationals to play in India later this year, which would remove Harmison from his family for seven weeks if he was also selected for the Test squad and would prove a sterner test of his about-turn.

But if England can persuade him to return full-time to England's one-day squad it would be a major boost to new captain Pietersen if he could partner him with all-rounder Andrew Flintoff.

Dale Benkenstein, Harmison's captain at Durham, certainly believes England will benefit from his change of heart and said recently: "I think they need him desperately in one-day cricket.

"Especially in the last couple of overs of the powerplays and then going through the middle period where guys are getting ones and twos - if they get in they generally play it how they want it - but he's the guy who can let you still attack as a captain.

"It would give you a totally different option to a lot of sides - they don't have that."

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