Harmison admits he was overawed early in the game in Brisbane

His first ball went to Andrew Flintoff at slip and he was taken out of the attack after two overs.

He said in his Mail on Sunday column: "No excuses, no mitigating factors. My performance has been nowhere near what I am capable of.

"In the second Test I'll do everything in my power to get things right."

I do feel I've bowled better as the game has progressed Steve Harmison

After finishing Australia's two innings in Brisbane with figures of 1-177, the Durham paceman admitted he "froze" under the pressure of the opening Test.

"I probably could not have bowled worse than I did in that opening two-over spell in the first morning," he said.

"When it came to bowling the first ball, I froze. I let the enormity of the situation get to me and it all seemed so alien.

"My whole body was nervous. I could not get my hands to stop sweating and the first ball slipped out of my hands, the second as well and, after that, I had no rhythm, nothing."

However, Harmison, who was used as second-change bowler in the second innings, feels he can turn his form around in time for the second Test in Adelaide, which starts on Friday.

"It just has not been good enough, I hold my hands up. But I do feel I've bowled better as the game has progressed.