The injury that forced Harris home from the IPL is not as bad as it first seemed.
Less than 24 hours after announcing he would be returning home from the IPL with an Achilles injury, Australian Ryan Harris has expressed his confidence he will be fit for the Ashes.
Harris was named in Australia’s 16-man squad for the series in England earlier this week, but then had to return home from playing in India after a problem with his tendon became worse.
The paceman plays for Kings XI Punjab in the IPL and appeared in their first three matches before picking up the injury and fears were gathering that the issue would affect his Ashes chances.
However, scans on the ankle and meetings with Cricket Australia’s chief medical officer Justin Paolini, have suggested the original prognosis of six to eight weeks on the sidelines is an overestimation.
“I’ve got to do some serious rehab and the doctor’s confident that 6-8 weeks is the worst case scenario,” Harris told ESPNcricinfo.
“The good thing is there is time to get it right and bowl some overs. I’ll have something under my belt for England.”
If all goes to plan for the 33-year-old then he could be back bowling in less than a month, giving him plenty of time to regain his fitness before the first Test begins at Trent Bridge on 10 July.
Injury problems have plagued Harris’ career and it will be a stroke of luck if he can maintain his fitness for the entire summer, after only playing three matches of last season’s Sheffield Shield in Australia due to a shoulder injury.
That being said the bowler did take 19 wickets in that time and his talent is there for all to see, so if he can stay fit then England should be worried.
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