- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Ryan Harris knows the question is coming, again.
How’s his hamstring?
“It’s fine, yeah … I feel good,” the Australian Test bowling spearhead said on Wednesday.
Harris completed 15 overs for Queensland against South Australia on the opening day of the Sheffield Shield match at beachside Glenelg Oval in Adelaide.
He took 1-27 as the Redbacks, with Tom Cooper smacking 165 not out, posted 4-294 on a day when Papua New Guineans fielded for a Queensland side depleted by illness and injury.
Harris, watched by Australian coach Darren Lehmann, bowled with pace and rhythm in his first long-form game since tearing a hamstring in the final Ashes Test in England two months ago.
Harris played four one-dayers leading into the Shield but Wednesday was the first time he’d sent down more than 10 overs in a day since the injury.
“I felt okay the first spell, the second spell not so good, but with the old ball in the end, I felt real good,” he said after spells of six, six and three overs.
“I feel it more when I’m not bowling. When I bowl, it warms up, it’s fine.”
Queensland won the domestic one-day title last Sunday but their Shield campaign started disastrously.
Their captain James Hopes was a late withdrawal due to stomach illness.
His replacement as leader, wicketkeeper Chris Hartley, went off with similar stomach complaints in the middle session. And Greg Moller also suffered the gastro bug but struggled on.
Yet all were arguably better off than paceman Ben Cutting – he was also suffering the stomach bug but, after bowling four overs, suffered a suspected broken finger. His playing day ended just after lunch.
The Bulls, who only sent 12 players to Adelaide, summoned substitute fielders from Papua New Guinea’s side, known as the Barramundis, who were in the SA capital for a training camp.
Queensland assistant coach Justin Sternes also fielded – and took a catch.
SA’s Cooper made the most of Queensland’s misfortune, scoring more runs in his sparkling dig than he did in a dismal last season when he was dumped from the Shield team.
“It just made me that more determined when I did get in, to go big,” Cooper said.
“And fortunately today, it went to plan.”
Cooper cracked six sixes and 18 fours and dominated an unbroken 193-run partnership with Johan Botha (59 not out) which steered SA from a wobbly 4-101.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.