Published: Jul 09, 2015, 02:35 PM (IST)
Edited: Jul 09, 2015, 02:35 PM (IST)
Australian swing bowler Ryan Harris called it a day as he retired from international cricket prior to the first Test at Cardiff due to a knee injury. This series could have been the climax of his magnificent career but it wasn’t to be as injury hampered his farewell to international cricket. In the first Test of the ongoing Ashes, Australia clinched early wickets but failed to capitalise on it as England now are in a commendable position. With Australia’s strike bowler, Mitchell Johnson going wicket-less on day one, Suraj Choudhari feels that Australia is missing the presence of Harris and takes a closer look at the current scenario.
Harris belongs to a rare club, that of swing bowlers. His forte is not pace but swing. He gets the ball to move both ways that too at a steady pace, which ultimately creates a lot of trouble for any genius with the bat. But he was under used as his journey was cut short due to incessant injuries.
Australia after a promising start in the opening game at Cardiff lost their way in the middle. Their bowlers although picked early wickets with the new ball which was crucial but failed to exploit the English batsmen further. Once the English batsmen in the middle-order got their eyes in, they negotiated the formidable pace attack very well. Although Joe Root was dropped early on in the innings by Brad Haddin behind the stumps, he made the utmost use of the chance and went on to score an aggressive hundred. England, struggling at one point, ended day one at 343 for seven.
What hurt Australia is the form of their strike bowler Mitchell Johnson. In the recent times, Johnson though has been among wickets, hasn’t looked menacing. His fiery instincts and intimidating bowling seem to be a thing of past. In the 2013-14 Ashes, Johnson stunned everyone with his exuberant bowling and on most occasions was unplayable. But that touch is now not seen in his bowling. This anomaly is best explained when we look at his recent stats. He hasn’t been consistent at all. Though he was good in the World Cup 2015 and the recent West Indies tour, he didn’t have a great outing against India in the last Australian summer where he averaged 35.53 in the three Tests he played. Even in the Indian Premier League (IPL) this season, Johnson picked only nine wickets at an economy of 9.37.
On the first day of the ongoing Ashes, Johnson not only failed to provide his team with breakthroughs but even failed to contain the English batsmen. He bowled 20 overs in which he conceded 87 runs without picking a single wicket. Although his imminent peer Mitchell Starc shared a similar economy but what made him a stand out performer was the three wickets he clinched.
Coming back to Harris, one should remember despite recurrent injuries, Harris was named as the Australia Player of the Series when Australia toured England in the previous Ashes. He picked 24 wickets at an average of 19.58 and was the protagonist for the team even though they lost the Test series.
He replicated his magical performance even in the Ashes series in Australia but his performance was camouflaged by Johnson. At home, Harris managed to send 22 batsmen walking back at an average of 19.31. Though the series was overshadowed by Johnson’s brilliance, Harris not only possessed better skills in English conditions but also has been a more consistent performer throughout his career.
Harris was a kind of a bowler who can conjure two quick wickets in an over, he had the ability to break the partnerships whenever it was building; since he’s not in the team anymore this responsibility high relies on Johnson’s shoulder as the other pace bowlers in the line-up lack the experience.
Harris’ absence in the line-up is already showing signs of concern and what’s adding to it is Johnson’s losing zing. If Australia are eyeing for a win, they can’t afford to allow English batsmen to settle down and look to intimidate them like they did Down Under in 2013-14.
(Suraj Choudhari, an avid cricket follower who plays the sport at club level, is a staffer with Criclife)
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