Ryan Harris battles for fitness for Ashes series

f Australia’s Ryan Harris pictured during the Ashes test against England

Aussie ace Ryan Harris’s injury, which he picked up during the closing stages of Ashes on Sunday, is much worse than previously feared.

The 33-year-old has played four consecutive Tests, a first in his entire career, and has shown impressive performances with 24 wickets at an average of less than 20 each, until he was forced to leave the field in the later stages of the match.

Harris describes the problem as “a little twingy in the hammy” when he received his award as Australia’s man of the series during the presentation ceremony and was enthusiastic about returning to play for Brisbane Heat in the upcoming Champions League Twenty20 competition.

But Cricket Australia ruled out any chance of the player’s return  in an official medical bulletin issued less than 24 hours later, stating that Harris “is expected to be unavailable to play for the next six to eight weeks”.

An eight-week absence would give Harris a month’s time to prepare for the first Test of the return series at his home state ground of the Gabba, which commences on 21 November.

Harris is the latest of several Australia bowlers to be sidelined due to injury problems. James Pattinson jetted home after the second Test at Lord’s with  back trouble – and acknowledged  that he is a “touch and go” to be fit for the first Test – and Jackson Bird followed suit after making just one appearance o in the fourth Test in Durham.

Pat Cummins, the exciting young fast bowling talent, will most likely be ruled out owing to more back problems