Harris faces lengthy rehabilitation process

Australian pace man expected to return against Pakistan.

SYDNEY: Veteran Australian fast bowler Ryan Harris has undergone surgery on his knee, but faces a long rehabilitation and is likely to be sidelined until October, Cricket Australia said on Wednesday.

Harris, acclaimed a hero after battling through the pain barrier to spearhead his country to a dramatic series victory over South Africa last week, went under the knife on Tuesday.

“Ryan will be on crutches for a few weeks and we expect a long rehabilitation period,” said team physiotherapist Alex Kountouris.”Hopefully for Ryan, he will be fit to play in the Test series against Pakistan later in the year but we will continue to assess his progress over the period.”

Despite being 34, Harris said he was determined to bounce back. “It’s nowhere near my career (being) over,” he said. “I did the surgery to play longer, more than anything. My knee is bit more damaged than the last time they went in a few years ago, and with what I put up with over the last few weeks, I can probably put up with just about anything now.”

Published in The Express Tribune, March 13^th, 2014.

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