Ryan Harris on fitness watch ahead of Ashes opener

SYDNEY - Cricket Australia is reportedly searching for a fit pace bowler to take on England this week after it was reported that Ryan Harris would be unavailable because of a chronic knee injury.

The 31-year-old took match figures of 9-140 to guide Queensland to their Sheffield Shield win over Tasmania on Saturday at Hobart’s Bellerive Oval.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, originally overlooked for the Australia A side in favour of 20-year-old Mitchell Starc, Harris remained in Hobart over the weekend to have his fitness assessed by CA’s medical staff.

Harris was named on Monday in Australia’s 17-man Ashes squad for the first Test in Brisbane starting on November 25, but he reportedly would not play either for Australia A or Queensland’s Shield team against South Australia this week.

“His availability for the first Ashes Test will be determined later this week,” the paper quoted Australian team physio Alex Kountouris, as saying on Monday.

Starc’s withdrawal from Australia A’s selected side with a side strain had given Harris an opportunity to play against England this week, but his knee problem has left selectors searching for a replacement for the four-day game starting on Wednesday. (ANI)