Australia have suffered a devastating blow four days before the start of next week’s Ashes series with the news that Ryan Harris, one of their key bowlers, has been forced to retire through injury.
Harris, 35, was ruled out of the Australians’ final warm-up match against Essex on Wednesday after suffering what team management termed soreness to his right knee. The problem with that joint has been a long-standing one for Harris and it flared up again after he bowled 30 overs in his country’s opening tour match against Kent.
Harris, who will be replaced in Australia’s squad by Pat Cummins, had major surgery on the chronic injury in March 2014 and that match at Canterbury was the fast bowler’s first competitive cricket since the Sydney Test against India in January.
After having two scans this week it was widely expected that Cricket Australia would announce on Saturday that he would miss the first two Tests of the series against England at Cardiff and Lord’s. However, the results of those scans were far worse than anyone had feared, a fractured tibia forcing the retirement of a player who has taken 46 wickets at 19.45 over the past two series against England.
An emotional Harris, speaking after Australia’s 169-run win in their final warm-up match against Essex, revealed he suffered a sleepless night after being advised on Friday afternoon by Peter Brukner, the Australia team doctor, and Alex Kountouris, the team physio, that he should retire. After confirming he will stay on with Australia for the first two Ashes Tests, he said breaking the news to his team-mates before play in Chelmsford on Saturday was one of the hardest moments of his life.
“I’d tried to have a couple of beers to put me to sleep – it didn’t work,” said Harris. “We had a 50-minute bus ride here and I played out in my mind what I was going to say and none of it went to plan – I could barely talk. That was one of the hardest things I’ve had to do.
“I was hoping it wasn’t coming to this. I’m very raw and emotional at the moment.”
Harris, who took 113 wickets in 27 Tests, received the news in a phone call from David Young, his surgeon in Melbourne, who had assessed the results of both scans. “He just explained it wasn’t good news,” said Harris, who will return to Australia for surgery in a couple of weeks. “I wasn’t great after that call but I spoke to Peter and Alex and they gave me some good advice. The word retired was used. It was a word I didn’t want to hear but deep down I knew it was coming.”
A key part of those conversations with Australia’s medical staff was the warning that Harris would risk his future health if he attempted one final comeback.
He had missed his side’s recent tour of the Caribbean to attend the birth of his first child, Carter. He said: “The way it was explained to me helped me in my decision. I want to run around with Carter and hopefully a couple more kids I want to have. That was at the forefront of my mind.”
Michael Clarke, Australia’s captain, said: “Everyone in that changing room will miss him a lot. He’s played 27 Tests but to me it’s felt like a hundred. I don’t remember playing a Test match without him. That’s how fond my memories are about how great a bowler he is. He’s as good as anyone who’s played for Australia.”
There were also generous words from England players. Ian Bell said: “Genuinely gutted to hear. He’s a top bloke. Always was tough to face. Wish him all the best.”
Michael Vaughan, England’s 2005 Ashes-winning captain, perhaps summed up the loss of Harris to Australia best, tweeting: “Ryan Harris IMO was their most dangerous threat in English conditions.”
Australia will at least head into the opening Test with another victory under their belt. After beating Kent last week, they swept aside an injury-hit Essex, who could field only nine batsmen after injuries to Nick Browne and Tom Westley. Mitchell Starc followed up his six-wicket haul in the first innings with three notable scalps in Jesse Ryder, Ravi Bopara and James Foster as Essex were dismissed for 200 chasing 370 to win.
However, Nathan Lyon endured a difficult match, the spinner conceding 201 runs before picking up the final wicket, Aron Nijjar, his only victim.
