Australia’s Ryan Harris was very nearly caught short when given the nod to bat in the second innings of the first Test against the West Indies on Wednesday.

The Queensland paceman was making a quick trip to the toilet during Australia’s chase for 192 to win when Peter Siddle interrupted to inform Harris it was time to pad up.

Harris’s match-turning unbeaten 68 in the first innings, which had allowed Michael Clarke to boldly declare while still trailing by 43 runs, had earned him a promotion as Australia’s victory bid began to falter.

“I was actually in the toilet and they came running in to get me – I had no idea,” Harris revealed after the win.

Undeterred, Harris cut short his bathroom visit and, shortly afterwards, found himself out in the middle after debutant Matthew Wade had fallen in the evening gloom for 18 to paceman Kemar Roach.

The score was 6-177, light was fading and there were still 15 runs to score – a task made harder when Roach removed Michael Hussey shortly afterwards.

That left Harris and fellow paceman Ben Hilfenhaus, the other star in Australia’s revival, to complete the win – a task they achieved off the final ball of the 47th over as they scrambled for the winning run.

Hilfenhaus ran over to Harris in celebration even as the Windies appealed in vain for a run-out, the subsequent not-out decision by the third umpire barely noticed by the jubilant pair.

“He said he was (confident) – then he wasn’t,” Harris said.

“Then we heard the roar from up on the balcony and we knew we were home.

“I actually said to Mike Hussey before tea that I’d love to be out there at the end of a Test match and hit the winning runs.

“I didn’t do that but I was out there. It was a good feeling.”