Ryan Harris is Australia's new bowling coach

Ryan Harris was a genuine fast-bowler for Australia

Australia has a new bowling coach and its not the legendary Glenn McGrath or the flamboyant Shane Warne. Instead, its Ryan Harris. The former fast-bowler will be Australia’s bowling coach as they tour South Africa starting later this month.

The 36-year-old was in the running to take over from Craig McDermott as Australia's full-time assistant coach earlier this year. The job however, went to David Saker, the former Victoria Bushrangers coach. Harris currently works as an assistant with the National Performance Squad in Queensland. He has previously coached the Under-19 Cricket Australia XI.

Debuting for Australia aged 29, Harris was a relative late entrant to the international scene. Nicknamed the “Rhino”, he was a hulking fast-bowler who trampled through the opposition on his day. Through his career as an international cricketer, Harris wore the baggy green in 27 Test claiming, 113 wickets at an average of 23.52. In a career hampered by frequent injuries, he turned out for Australia in just 21 ODIs while picking 44 wickets at an average of 18.90.

"I would have loved to have done it (the assistant coach role that went to Saker), but for me I've still got a lot to learn before I take on a role such as that," Harris toldcricket.com.au on Friday (September 2). "If I'm good enough, I'll go as far as I want to go. If I'm not and I need to work on things, then I will. That's the way I'll approach it from now on.

"You're always learning. With the playing side of things, I was always learning until the day I finished," he added. "I think if you sit there and say that you know it all as a coach, you probably should give it up."

"(Saker is) a guy I look at as someone I can learn so much off and he's had a lot of success," he said. "He knows the game and he's got some great ideas around the game. So to be able to spend time under him is going to be priceless for me to keep learning."

Harris had always been open about his coaching ambitions in the past and had even hinted at being interested in coaching Australia. The progression now though seems natural for the gifted fast-bowler, who in his heyday was adept at bowling a tight length and getting rid of batsmen with sharp cutter.

Australia's tour of South Africa starts with an ODI against Ireland on September 27 and will be followed by five ODIs against the hosts.