Ryan Harris thought he would miss the first Test against the West Indies in Barbados but, for Australia’s sake, it’s a good thing selectors didn’t agree with him.
Harris was adamant in the build-up to the series opener that he was behind fast bowling rivals James Pattinson, Ben Hilfenhaus and Peter Siddle in the pecking order.
Not many believed the Queenslander and, sure enough, he was named ahead of 21-year-old Pattinson to take on the Windies at Saturday’s toss.
But if Harris was playing a game of bluff with the media in the build-up to the first Test, it’s a ruse that’s unlikely to get much airtime for the rest of the series after his role in Australia’s remarkable fightback at Kensington Oval on Tuesday.
First Harris scored his maiden Test half-century, an unbeaten 68, as he boosted Australia’s first innings total by 121 runs with Ben Hilfenhaus (24) and Nathan Lyon (40no) – the last pair adding an unbroken 77 for the final wicket.
Then after a short break to rest his weary 32-year-old body, Harris took just five balls to do what had proven impossible in the Windies’ first innings by dismissing middle-order veteran Shivnarine Chanderpaul.
The bowler’s celebrations were understated, possibly from a lack of energy following his earlier exertions, but the reaction of debutant Matthew Wade after the wicketkeeper took the catch told the story.
Wade threw the ball high in the air and roared before hugging captain Michael Clarke, the pair knowing just how crucial the 37-year-old left-hander’s scalp is in any situation.
“It’s obviously good to get him out especially,” said Harris, who continued to deflect the attention off his efforts in the end-of-day media conference.
“To get him out second innings for not many was a huge wicket because I think they batted around him a fair bit.
“Obviously to score some runs was good but I’m just trying to win this Test match.
“Everyone, Hilfenhaus and even Lyon, we all worked together and got us close.”