Ryan Harris is Australia's Mr Irreplaceable

The more I cringed at the complete and utter obliteration of the Australian team at the hands of Pakistan, the more I realised Ryan Harris is irreplaceable.

Harris is a bowling spearhead who inspires others through his leadership, as well as eclectic brilliance in all conditions.

His absence against Pakistan was profound, with a bowling unit that propelled Australia to number one in the game reduced to an embarrassing rubble, as seen in only 20 wickets in the series at an outrageous average of 76.7.

Mitchell Johnson’s devastating potential was nullified, with the Pakistani batsmen able to see him off. Onlookers might put this down to the conditions, which has a degree of justification, but the absence of Harris’ relentless pressure coupled with his lethal threat was a greater issue.

The secondary effect was the demands on others to fill the void, with Nathan Lyon the stand-out. He is very effective in his role as a situational bowler coming on with the scoreboard in his favour. But under the expectation to take a more prominent role and be a difference maker he is found wanting. Similarly Peter Siddle and the rest of the bowlers were exposed.

The more damning aspect was how a bowling unit lauded for its cohesion and tightness as a group, meekly imploded. It was if they were resigned to fate, with little or no desire to make a stand and try to turn around a raging tide. This overwhelming defeatist aura was due to the lack of Harris, the bowling unit’s leader, making them find that little extra, or at the very least show a certain pride in the baggy green through unrelenting effort, even while copping a pasting.

The big picture does not bode well for Australia in the near future – Harris is 35, with a bone china body to boot, meaning the end is nigh. When you factor in how reliant the team’s brittle batting has been on its bowling unit to carry it, it puts a direct focus on finding a replacement.

The devotees will talk up Australia’s fast bowling depth in response, and dismiss it as a non-issue. One can buy into this if all are fit and able, with James Pattinson a perfect replacement for Harris in both skill and leadership potential. Factor in Pat Cummins as his lieutenant to go with Mitchell Johnson and the stuff of cricketing wet dreams are realised.

But before one drools too much over that prospect, reality is both Pattinson and Cummins are in the treatment room more than on the ground. Even now, both have real doubt attached to their long-term Test futures.

So, who else?

Maybe Chadd Sayers, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Coulter-Nile or Mitchell Starc? All have great potential, but no real performances to pin hopes on as difference makers. It would also be unwise to exert such an expectation on players in their infancy.