Harris out for up to eight weeks

Australia paceman in doubt for return Ashes series opener.

SYDNEY/ SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA: Australia paceman Ryan Harris faces a race to be fit for the return Ashes series opener against England after being ruled out for up to eight weeks with a hamstring injury, said Cricket Australia (CA) yesterday.

Harris, Australia’s leading wicket-taker in the recent 3-0 Ashes series loss in England, had the injury assessed after arriving back home in Brisbane yesterday.

Harris suffered the injury to his right hamstring during last weekend’s drawn fifth Test at The Oval in London.

The fast-bowler had been hopeful he would be declared fit to fly out for India in a fortnight for the Champions League Twenty20 tournament.

However, a CA statement said scans had ruled him out for six to eight weeks, which could mean a return in late October. The first Ashes Test, at Brisbane’s Gabba ground, starts on November 21.

The 33-year-old’s injury-prone body had held together for four straight Tests in the recent series in England for the first time in his stop-start career as he took 24 wickets at 19.58 to be his team’s player of the series.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 30^th, 2013.

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