SYDNEY: Australia fast bowler Ryan Harris will hold nothing back in the second Ashes Test against England this week even if his injury track record suggests he will struggle to play all five Tests in the series.
A litany of injuries since making his debut in 2010 has prevented Harris from completing a five-match Test series, his best effort being four of five matches in England earlier this year when he was his country’s outstanding bowler.
With Adelaide likely to be the toughest venue for the quick bowlers, some have suggested Australia would be wise to revive their rotation policy and save the 34-year-old for the third match on a more pace-friendly wicket in Perth.
Having grabbed five wickets for 77 runs to help Australia take a series lead with a thumping 381-run victory in the opening Test in Brisbane, though, Harris has no intention of taking it easy at the Adelaide Oval.
“I’ll be all guns blazing here,” he told reporters on Monday. “I’m not going to miss a test unless I really have to. I’ve said that from the start, I’m here to play five.
“I had the turnaround in England and I got through okay. The wickets here are a little harder, that’s probably the only difference.
“I’m feeling good, obviously the extra rest after Brisbane helped but I’m feeling good and ready to go here.
“We’re still going to be aggressive, we’ve said that from the start, and we’ll assess the wicket and do whatever we can here.” (Reuters)