Ryan Harris may be lacking match fitness, but you wouldn’t know it given the way the lion-hearted paceman is bowling.
That is the opinion of teammates Brad Haddin and Shane Watson, who have both faced Harris in the nets after the Test squad assembled in Adelaide on Thursday.
Since undergoing major knee surgery in March, Harris has played two first-class games.
Two weeks ago, the 35-year-old told national selectors he wanted one more Sheffield Shield hit-out before the first Test.
Queenslander Harris sent down 13 overs on day one of that Shield fixture against Tasmania, but it was abandoned after Phillip Hughes was struck by a bouncer at the SCG.
Harris said last week he would be ready for the rescheduled first Test against India at Adelaide Oval, and Haddin could only agree.
“He was good,” Haddin said of Harris.
“He was his normal, negative self – asking if he was doing the right thing, is it coming through alright?
“I was lucky enough to face him for a good 20 minutes and it was tough work.”
Watson faced Harris on Sunday and said he “is bowling as well as he has”.
“Ryan will always make sure he gets himself up for a Test,” Watson added.
It has been a long road back for the quick.
Harris’ most recent Test came in March when he bowled Australia to a memorable last-gasp victory in the series decider against South Africa in Cape Town.
“It was good to see him back playing and bowling the way Ryan does,” Haddin said.
“He won’t think he was bowling very good, but he had that zip and nip back again which was really good.”
Harris and Mitchell Johnson will be given the new ball in what will be a highly-emotional Test after Hughes’ death.
Peter Siddle and Josh Hazlewood are battling for the other pace berth in the XI.
Siddle excelled in a recent Shield game at the venue and Victoria coach Greg Shipperd backed him to make an impact against India.
“He’s been a great warrior for Australia,” Shipperd said recently.
“He was back to his brilliant best (in that Shield game).
“He was hungry, he understood what he needed to do to wake the selectors up. He did that very well.”
