Ryan Harris - The man who never stopped fighting
It's not often that someone with just 51 international matches under his belt is considered a legend. It’s not often that someone with just 113 Test wickets is considered a legend. It’s not often that a fast bowler who made his debut at the age of 30 is considered a legend. For that, you need to be special, very special. Ryan Harris was just that. Probably more.
January 2015 – Cricket Australia declare that Ryan Harris will not be considered for selection in Australia’s World Cup squad. Australia needs him for the Ashes, they said. Being as injury prone as he is, it felt like the correct decision, for you never know with Ryan Harris.
That’s precisely the reason everyone wanted to see him bowl as much as they could – the sight of his bowling like a precious commodity that is always in risk of running out. They saw so little of him. But whatever little they saw, it left them spellbound. It left them wishing for more.
Ryan Harris steaming in from the top of his run, hunting batsmen down was a sight as seductive as they get. They probably knew the end was never too far for Ryan Harris. Every match he played seemed like a miracle, a miracle nobody wanted to see the end of.
5 March 2014 – Australia vs South Africa, 3rd Test, Cape Town, Day 5
The day I fell in love with Ryan Harris. I had always liked Ryan Harris. I liked his bowling, I liked his attitude, I liked his spirit, I liked his passion, I liked his courage. That day, I started loving all of it.
Saying Ryan Harris had terrible knees would probably be the understatement of the century. They were far worse. Knees so bad that it was commendable enough that he could walk, let alone bowl Right Arm Fast Medium for Australia.
Ryan Harris required surgery on his knees. It was long overdue. He had deferred it once. He wanted to play against South Africa. He wanted to win against South Africa. The first two Test matches went by without much discomfort. Discomfort certainly, but not too much for a man with Harris’ courage and passion.
It was before the third match that the knees became even worse if that was possible. The medical team advised him rest. If Harris had to play, he would require injections to suck the liquid out of his knees before each spell and an extensive knee rehabilitation session each day. Harris’ career could have finished if he put too much pressure on his knees.
The series was tied 1-1. Australia had just won the Ashes 5-0. They were one step away from winning a series against the world’s best team. They were one step away from stamping their authority back on world cricket. Australia wanted Harris. Australia needed Harris. The world wanted Harris to play. Cricket needed Harris to play. Harris played. Harris won. The match, the series and the people’s hearts.
46.3-24-92-7 – Ryan Harris vs South Africa, 3rd Test, Cape Town, 2014
His workload was supposed to be light. It was anything but. Harris never complained. Harris got tired. Harris carried on. Harris was in pain. Harris fought. Harris took wickets. Harris broke down. Harris seemed done. Harris came back. Harris took more wickets. Crucial wickets – AB De Villiers when he just looked like making the pitch his second home.
Then, with just 5 overs left, his body looking lifeless, Dale Steyn who had hung around with Vernon Philander for 75 minutes and last man Morne Morkel, was castled by Harris to win Australia a match which will go down as one the best matches ever played in the history of this sport. At the end of it, Harris smiled. The world smiled with him. For him.
When Cricket Australia did not select him for the World Cup, it was clear they were preserving him for the Ashes. Everybody knew that the Ashes would be his last series. They just wanted to see Harris bowl. They would probably have to wait six months for that. But they knew that the wait would be worth it. They would see Ryan Harris bowl once more, probably one last time.
This would have been special. This would have been emotional. This would have been the perfect end. Ryan Harris bowling Australia to an Ashes victory in England. This was not to be. Things never worked out as planned for Ryan Harris. His knees gave way.
Harris was done, for good this time. Harris did not get the farewell he deserved. He never got what he deserved. He had to fight for everything. He had to fight with the system when lesser talented players were picked ahead of him, he had to fight with his mind, fight with his body for every single one of the 27 Tests, 21 ODI’s and 3 T20I’s that he played.
He fought well, very well. That is why he is so special. Till the very end, he never stopped fighting. This was one thing you knew about Ryan Harris, he would never stop fighting.