By Chris Stocks
Ryan Harris made the bold claim this week that Australia’s current bowling attack – led by an in-form Mitchell Starc – is better than the one that dismantled England in the last series here in 2013-14.
However, Harris, who combined devastatingly with a rampant Mitchell Johnson four years ago, has also warned Steve Smith and his players that James Anderson and Stuart Broad are capable of “destroying” them in the forthcoming Ashes.
The 38-year-old, who was forced to retire through injury at the start of Australia’s last tour of England in 2015, was buoyant about his country’s current fast-bowling resources.
But he also knows the threat posed by the two most prolific bowlers in England’s history, who share a combined 894 Test wickets between them, will be very real for Australia.
“The bowling line-ups are world class and I think they’re going to have a big say on each Test match,” said Harris.
“Anderson and Broad, those two blokes can destroy games and destroy line-ups and they’re proven good bowlers over here. Anderson’s gotten better in these conditions, it’s pacey and Broad likes the pace.”
Anderson in particular has enjoyed a fine year, taking 39 wickets at 14.10 during seven home Tests against South Africa and West Indies last summer.
It’s true Anderson’s record in Australia is not brilliant. Over three previous Ashes tours, he averages 38.44 compared to his career mark of 27.39. But he did have one stand-out series in 2010-11, where his 24 wickets at 26.04 proved crucial to England’s first away Ashes win in 24 years.
This year there is the added factor of a day-night Test in Adelaide, which could play into the hands of both Anderson and Broad if they can make the pink Kookaburra ball sing.
Harris, who is coaching the Cricket Australia XI taking on England in a day-night tour match in Adelaide this week, says: “With the ball moving around, it’s been well documented we’ve had trouble with that but we’re in our own conditions.”
Harris took 22 wickets at 19.31 when Australia whitewashed England 5-0 in 2013-14, second only to Johnson’s haul of 37 wickets at 13.97.
However, he believes the trio of Starc, who took two hat-tricks in the same Sheffield Shield match for New South Wales against Western Australia this week, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins will be even better in the upcoming series.
“I think so,” he said. “Hazlewood’s probably doing the job that I did and he’s quicker than me, and he gets more bounce. And you’ve got Starc who can definitely do a Johnson role, and Cummins so you’ve probably got an extra bit of pace.
“Cummins on his day, he’s fast as well. Obviously, we did a good job last time but the key is going to be working as a team, as a bowling unit.
“That’s what we did well last time and obviously got the results.”
Harris, who took 57 wickets at 20.63 in 12 Ashes Tests, will work alongside David Saker, the former England fast-bowling coach now in charge of Australia’s quicks, in the run-up to the first Test at the Gabba.
But he will take a back-seat role unless one of the current crop comes to him for specific advice.
“I’ll be up in Brisbane when they assemble there,” he said.
“Darren Lehmann [Australia’s coach] has asked me if I want to be around and I will be, but I won’t be going to them. They’ve got their own preparation.
“Dave Saker knows a fair bit about these guys, so I won’t be butting in and hurting their preparations. I’m there if they need me.”
England’s squad has been belittled in Australia namely because apart from Anderson, Broad, Alastair Cook and Joe Root the general public have no idea who most of the other players are.
“I don’t know too much about many of the squad but they wouldn’t be here if they weren’t good players,” said Harris. “I think both squads are a bit unsettled more on their batting line-ups which I think brings them closer together. I think Australia have got a pretty good idea of who they want to pick but having that unsettled feeling going into that first Test – the bowling line-ups are fine – but I think they’re on even par with their batting line-ups.”
One thing is for sure, though. If Harris were still fit, available, and perhaps a couple of years younger, he would undoubtedly get into this current Australian team.
And he admits he is now missing the anticipation of taking part in the biggest series of them all.
“This is the stage when I really do miss playing,” said Harris.
“This build-up to an Ashes series, it’s a fantastic time to be a part of cricket and an Ashes series, you don’t get much bigger than that.”
