Australia may unleash Harris on a bouncy WACA track
January 5th, 2012 - 4:08 pm ICT by IANSSydney, Jan 5 (IANS) Australa will be unleashing fast bowler Ryan Harris in a four-pronged pace battery in next week’s third Test against India on a bouncy WACA track in Perth.
The Indian batsmen failed to handle three fired-up Australian quicks in the first two Tests on tracks that were good for batting. But with the WACA track offering extra bounce, Australia are likely to add Harris to their line-up at the expense of spinner Nathan Lyon.
Australia banned Harris from playing for Brisbane Heat in the next Big Bash match at the Gabba and flew him to Sydney early Wednesday so that he gels with the team.
The 32-year-old Harris has recovered from his chronic knee and hip injuries and Test skipper Michael Clarke also realises that the lion-hearted bowler is the best quick when he is fit.
Harris has 35 wickets at 21.37 from eight Tests. Last year, he ripped apart England during the Ashes at Perth with a nine-wicket haul including 6-47 in the second innings.
The big bonus with playing Harris as part of a four-man pace battery would be his workload would be lessened and he may only be required to send down four-over spells as he is rotated in and out of the attack with the other three quicks.
Even if Lyon is dropped, the off-spinner is sure to be back for the fourth Test on the turning Adelaide pitch that he used to help prepare.
- WACA curator predicts bouncy Perth track - Jan 09, 2012
- Australia still undecided on bowling attack - Jan 12, 2012
- Clarke praises injury-prone Harris - Jan 12, 2012
- Arthur says Harris ready for Perth - Jan 07, 2012
- We have always put the team first: Clarke - Jan 06, 2012
- Lyon to fine tune skills with Warne ahead of Adelaide Test - Jan 18, 2012
- Thomson backs four-pronged pace for Melbourne Ashes Test - Dec 23, 2010
- Australia name unchanged XI for second Test - Jan 02, 2012
- Harris returns to Australia Test squad - Dec 30, 2011
- Back injury may force Pattinson to miss remainder of series - Apr 19, 2012
- Dhoni blames batting collapse for loss, hopes to win in Perth - Jan 06, 2012
- Bowling to Indians a great challenge, says Lyon - Jan 22, 2012
- Anything less than a whitewash will be sad: Clarke - Jan 22, 2012
- All-pace attack can backfire: Siddle - Dec 30, 2011
- It will be interesting how India bat at Perth: Arthur - Jan 07, 2012
Tags: adelaide, australa, gabba, hip injuries, indian batsmen, lion hearted, lyon, michael clarke, perth, pitch, quicks, ryan harris, skipper, spells, spinner, third test, waca, wicket haul, wickets, workload