Thaindian News

Sydney, Jun 19 (ANI): Australia’s new bowling sensation Ryan Harris nearly became another overseas-born England cricketer two years ago, but changed his mind at the last minute.

Born in Sydney but the holder of a British passport through his father, Harris, 30, came close to moving to England in 2008.

But a plan to play as a non-overseas player for county side Sussex in 2008 failed after Harris left South Australia and signed a deal to play with Queensland on a similar basis.

“That was the muck up with my management. It was something that I did think of, obviously with the dual passport. That was something that was a possibility. To be fair, I was quite close to doing that. Just at the last hurdle I thought maybe not yet,” Harris said.

“I still hoped to play for Australia, I would have given it another year or two and if it didn’t happen then I might have made the move,” The Sydney Morning Herald quoted Harris, as saying.”

The decision proved right as Harris made his international debut the following summer in a one-dayer against South Africa in Hobart.

He made his ODI debut in January 2009, but the real breakthrough came in early 2010 when he secured his Test debut against New Zealand, at Wellington, having enjoyed a golden spell of one-day action. He had taken 30 scalps in 12 matches including consecutive five-wicket hauls on his recall against Pakistan.

England’s most recent Test side contained five overseas-born players, including captain Andrew Strauss. (ANI)