Ryan Harris gave selectors plenty to ponder but believes he’ll sit out Australia’s first Test against the West Indies in Barbados despite a four-wicket haul in the three-day tour match.
Harris claimed 4-22 off 13 overs on the first day to outshine his pace rivals James Pattinson, Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus as Australia dismissed the Windies Board President’s XI for 201 in Bridgetown on Tuesday.
Siddle claimed one wicket while Pattinson and Hilfenhaus went wicketless, although Hilfenhaus was unlucky as Shane Watson and Peter Nevill both dropped chances off his bowling.
But Harris reiterated his belief that he’ll be the man to miss out when Australia’s XI is chosen for the opening Test at Kensington Oval starting on Saturday.
“In a tour game, it’s always good to get wickets but I still feel Patto, Sidds and Hilf had a great summer,” Harris said.
“I only got a game (in the final two home Tests against India) because Patto got injured and he bowled well again today.
“I still think that they’ll start but, obviously, I want to put as much pressure on them as I can and, by taking some wickets, I think I’ve done that.
“If I play, I play. We’ve got to pick the best three quicks to bowl the West Indies out and, whatever it takes to win Test matches, that’s what I want.”
Harris’s display on a grassless wicket showed his value as a wicket-taking option.
And after playing a key role for Australia on similar wickets in last year’s tour of Sri Lanka, he does concede he might have an edge over his pace rivals in that department.
“That’s probably the thing that is in my favour,” he said.
“Performing like I did over there helps but it’s obviously different over here. There’s no grass on them but they’re a bit firmer.
“Patto with his bounce is going to go through more and same as Sidds and Hilf with the ball. We’re using different balls over here. They’re likely to swing a little bit more so that’s going to help Hilf.”
The three-day tour match ends on Wednesday (Thursday AEST).