Harris likely to miss 2011 World Cup due to ankle injury
Injured Australian pacer Ryan Harris is likely to miss ICC World Cup 2011 due to a stress fracture in his left ankle which he picked on day three of fourth Ashes Test in Melbourne.
Harris, who was later sent for surgery on his broken ankle, is expected to be out of the game for a minimum of eight weeks but the complete recovery might take three to four months. The bowler, however, is hopeful to recover in time to participate in the
mega event which gets underway in just over seven weeks.
The latest ankle injury episode would be a major disappointment for the 31-year-old right-arm pacer who has been forced to stay out of the game for a major part of his seven-month Test career due to a knee injury since making a strong start to his career
in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/March-c74391 earlier this year. Harris has picked 20 wickets at an average of 24.40 in five Test matches, 9 of which came during Australia’s 267-run win against England in Perth.
Australian captain Ricky Ponting told media that the injured pacer was a little bit disappointed though he did add he was quite optimistic as well. Ponting also hinted that the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-South-Wales-c823 pacer might miss next year’s World Cup tournament due to the
injury.
"I think he's actually having surgery as we speak. It looks like it could be a few months,” said the battered Aussie captain after England retained the Ashes urn with an innings and 157-run victory at Melbourne Cricket Ground. “I had a chat to him this morning
and said 'it looks like it's going to be hard for you for the World Cup', and he didn't rule that out."
Harris, who missed the opening Ashes Test at Brisbane due to delay in his recovery from knee injury, has been one of the quickest bowlers and a genuine wicket-taker during the ongoing Ashes series. With 41 one-day wickets at an average of 16.12, Harris is
an inspiring ODI pacer as well and his absence in the quadrennial tournament next year would be a massive blow for the struggling Aussies.
"It's a massive blow for him and a massive blow for the team as well, because he has been a great performer in every game that he’s played," said Ponting. “Not just over the last couple of weeks but since he debuted in the one-day team a little while ago."
Harris’s injury means the spinner http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Michael-Beer-c1949 should gear up for his Test debut after being 12th man at Perth and MCG. Since a four-pronged pace attack is not usually a preferred choice at Sydney, therefore, chances of Doug Bollinger making a
comeback in Ashes finale are quite low.
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