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Harris tells selectors he is not ready for first Test

19th November, 2014
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He’s back – sort of. Hard-marking Queensland quick Ryan Harris has surprisingly claimed he is still not ready for Test duty despite a stirring Sheffield Shield comeback.

Harris took match figures of 7-118 and thrashed a run-a-ball 50 in his return from knee surgery to inspire Queensland’s 188-run win over NSW on Wednesday at the Gabba.

His heroics in his first match in eight months appeared to be ideal preparation for the first Test against India starting on December 4 at the Gabba.

He appeared to nail down a Test spot alongside Peter Siddle (5-31) who tore apart South Australia to set up Victoria’s innings-and-46-run Shield win in Adelaide.

Another major piece of the Test puzzle looks set to be revealed on Thursday when team physio Alex Kountouris provides an update on skipper Michael Clarke’s hamstring.

But Harris, 35, seemed to be the only one not impressed by his return, saying he needed more game time to be right for his first Test since a series-clinching victory over South Africa in March in Cape Town.

Harris hoped to play in Queensland’s next Shield clash with Tasmania beginning on Tuesday in Brisbane.

The only trouble is the Test squad is named on Monday.

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Harris said he would speak with selectors about his plight in coming days.

Asked if he was ready to play a Test, Harris said: “Probably not yet. I probably need another game, a few more overs, I reckon.

“I am getting better the more I bowl.”

Harris hoped to be named in an expected extended national squad on Monday to cover the first two Tests of the four-match series against India.

But only if he felt his body was at 100 per cent.

“I would like to be in the squad and get a chance,” he said.

“But I am pretty honest with Boof (Australian coach Darren Lehmann) and the selectors.

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“If the body doesn’t feel right, then I will tell them because I am not going into a Test match at 70 per cent because you can’t afford to do that.”

The injury-plagued Harris was expected to be wrapped in cotton wool ahead of the first Test but the veteran said he would be silly if he didn’t play another match before the India series.

“I am not putting enough in the right spot consistently,” he said.

“I would like another chance to do that, rather than spray them around like I did here.

“It’s something you try and find in net sessions but you are not going to get that intensity, so I would be silly not to play another game if it is there.”

Meanwhile, Siddle hoped to have cemented a spot in the Test attack which was expected to be completed by Harris, Mitchell Johnson and Josh Hazlewood.

“I hope so. It’s all I could do,” he said.

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At least Siddle was excited by Harris’ heroics.

“It’s just great to see him back, mate,” he said.

“Australian cricket needs him out there, that is for sure.”

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