Australian great and chief tormentor of England batsmen throughout his career, Shane Warne says Ryan Harris should be in the XI for the first Ashes Test at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff.
Warne, who took an amazing 195 Test wickets at an average of 23.25 with best figures of 8-71 against the old enemy, believes a fit Harris should take the place of Josh Hazlewood in the Australian side.
Warne, who was a guest at a golf day at Sandhurst in Melbourne, praised Harris as one of Australia’s greats.
“Ryan Harris will definitely come in,” Warne said.
“Hazlewood has bowled beautifully and is a perfect new-ball bowler for English conditions but, for me, Ryan Harris is one of the greatest fast bowlers Australia have had.
“(England have) got a few budgies against Mitchell Johnson and (Mitchell) Starc is probably the best fast bowler in the world, so Hazlewood might be unlucky to miss out.”
After heaping praise on Australia’s bowling stocks, Warne turned like one of his leg-breaks and rounded on the England team, most notably skipper Alastair Cook and part-time spinner Moeen Ali.
“It’s an opportunity for Australia to expose Alastair Cook’s deficiencies in his captaincy,” Warne said.
“If Michael Clarke can put the foot on the throat and target Cook early, it will be nice to see that disparity between the captains.
“I’m not sure what Moeen Ali’s role is either.
“He hasn’t done that well so far. He is a batsman who bowls a bit of part time (offspin).”
Warne also launched a grenade at England for failing to select his good mate Kevin Pietersen, who famously fell out with both selector Andrew Strauss and captain Cook.
In his explosive book, Pietersen wrote of Cook: “Cooky hates conflict. He’s another Mr. Nice Guy – like Ned Flanders from The Simpsons.”
Warne labelled the decision to cast Pietersen aside as disappointing.
“If you look at the England team and put Kevin Pietersen there, it looks a better team straight away,” Warne said.
“But I can’t see him getting back in unless they get absolutely thrashed in the first two Tests and nobody is getting any runs.
“I hope he is part of the Ashes series. He is one of the most-destructive players to play the game during my time.”
13th Man
Guest
harsh on Voges, he could win us the Ashes, certainly more important than the likes of Haddin, Watson and i think Clarke.
Zim Zam
Roar Rookie
Yes, I just reckon it's a bit of a stretch to rate a player as a true all-rounder if their batting isn't a factor in their selection.
Zim Zam
Roar Rookie
The Aussies will pick Watson - or another all-rounder if Watson isn't performing - anyway. They want a fifth bowler at all times, whether Harris is in the team or not, to bowl as many overs as they need to give the front-liners a break, without releasing pressure and allowing the batsmen to suddenly start rattling along at 4-6 an over because a part-timer is on. That's a job Watto does very well. For him it's a matter of whether or not he can get his batting up to scratch. Harris may not back up for all the Tests, but they will play him as often as they can, because he is our best, most reliable bowler. We've got plenty of young bowlers to pick up when he does retire, but if you've got a star like Ryan Harris, you're gonna play him as long as you can. However, I still reckon Hazlewood should be in the team, as we need someone to bowl those long, dry spells, build pressure, take wickets. Starc is a little erratic for that role, and Johnson is similarly less effective when used that way - he's best bowled in short spells as a strike-bowler. And they do have to be economical about bowling Ryno. So I think Hazlewood has to be in there.
Harry Easton
Roar Rookie
Last Ashes, Harris averaged 23, Johnson averaged 27.5. Both seem to enjoy batting vs England, Starc hit over 100 runs when he was in England in 2013. Hazlewood slogged well in West Indies when he combined with Voges for the last wicket. Combined, these guys can make the runs that Watto Lotto could provided for Aus
CW
Guest
Johnson ranked four. Find that hard to believe! All those named are bowlers who contribute useful runs. Calling them all rounders. is stretching things a bit far.
CW
Guest
Inconsistencies. And Victorian bias.
CW
Guest
Do not concur. "Harris and Hazlewood are similar bowlers" Nothing alike. Yes they are both accurate and can hit the seam. Hazey with his almost 2m height can do so much more than the shorter and skiddy Harris can do. I would rate Harris and Siddle as similar bowlers.
rtp
Guest
I don't agree but I can see where Warne is coming from. Harris and Hazlewood are similar bowlers. Warne thinks that Harris deserves to be picked as "that type of bowler" in the team and so the next two spots go to a guy who is virtually unplayable when it is swinging and someone who has previously tormented the English.
b
Guest
Genius
Pope Paul vii
Guest
Yes ZZ it would appear most allrounders are bowlers who can bat and no selectors will stretch to picking them as top six batsmen. The batting allrounder is a much rarer thing.
Zim Zam
Roar Rookie
This is slightly off-topic, but does anyone find it a tad skewed that of the Top 10 Test all-rounders, 6 are selected as bowlers? Philander (2), Johnson (4), Broad (5), Harris (6), Steyn (8) and Southee (10). The four that are actually selected as all-rounders are Shakib Al Hasan (1), Ravi Ashwin (3), Mohammed Hafeez (7) and Watto (9). Ashwin bats at No. 8, and has 1000 Test runs with two 100s and four 50s. So of the Top 10 all-rounders in the world, only 3 of them actually bat at No. 7 or higher and bowl, which you'd think would be the point if you were selecting an all-rounder, wouldn't you? I don't know, seems a bit strange to me.
Dan in Devon
Guest
the obvious problem is going to be match fitness in respect of Harris. If Harris is selected then Australia will probably pick Watson in order to have another bowling option in case Harris breaks down. Hazelwood is a long term prospect for Australia and it would be a case of very short-term thinking if Harris was preferred to him.
Lily
Guest
He is saying Mitch is the best bowler so that people can forget what he said about him in December 2014. Not because he genuinely feels that. He was so defending his comments back then. Said he stands by whatever he said because he was absolutely right. Why doesn't he stand by it now? Suddenly its not true anymore? Suddenly the guy who he beleives is soft is the best bowler in the world? I absolutely love Mitch Starc but I could do without Shane Warne's relentless comments about him - good or bad.
Jameswm
Guest
He's just backing Starc now to make up for his dumping on him before
philhammond
Roar Rookie
This is the same Shane Warne who tweeted before the 2013 Ashes that his preferred team for that series was: "Watson, Warner, S Marsh, Clarke, Wade, Henriques, Faulkner, Maxwell, Coulter-Nile, Pattinson, Lyon/Siddle." Safe to say Shane's mind is prone to inconsistencies.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
I'd love to see a 4 pronged pace attack and Lyon with Wato missing out. Go for the jugular early I reckon ! That said it won't happen but I'd love to know what Boof et El have mandated to him. Perform in the first two test matches or M Marsh comes in or 4th quick.
Joey Johns
Roar Guru
Harris is the 6th ranked all rounder in the world. Johnson is the 4th.Starc is a better batsman than both of them - so long as he gets past his first 10. Watson is the 8th ranked btw. I think dropping Watson for Harris is probably the best choice. You dont lose much in batting and by god to have 4 quicks each fresh and firing... 20 wickets is a shoe in.
Peter
Roar Rookie
I bet Warney would say Starc improved after he gave him that almighty spray last summer. I doubt that's the case but that'll be his line
Raging Bull
Guest
tarc,harris.hazlewood form the four prong pace attack with lyon taking the final spot.cardiff historically produces a high scoring wicket so going with 5 bowlers is the best option imo
Marco
Guest
I think the moral if his story was to again bring HIS MATE "KP" into the equation, verbally attack cook yet again and once again give his own bias opinion of who he likes. Great player, very good commentator when not being bias but when he dislikes you good luck getting any praise