Australia pace attack better than 2013/14, says Ryan Harris, ahead of Ashes
"The bowling line-ups are world class, and I think they're going to have a big say on each Test match."
Tuesday 7 November 2017 10:50, UK
Ryan Harris believes the current Australia pace attack is better than the one that destroyed England during the 2013/14 Ashes series.
Former seamer Harris added 22 wickets to the 37 picked up by Mitchell Johnson and the 16 taken by Peter Siddle as Australia condemned England a 5-0 whitewash four years ago.
However, the 38-year-old says the triumvirate of Mitchell Starc - who took two hat-tricks for New South Wales against Western Australia in the Sheffield Shield - Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins tops the trio he was part of.
"Hazlewood's probably doing the job that I did, and he's quicker than me and gets more bounce," said Harris, who will coach a Cricket Australia XI against England in a day-night warm-up match in Adelaide from Wednesday.
"You've got Starc, who can definitely do a Johnson role, and you've got Cummins - so you've probably got an extra bit of pace.
"The key is going to be working as a team, as a bowling unit. That's what we did well last time and obviously got the results."
Harris was also complimentary about the "world class" England attack, which will be led by James Anderson and Stuart Broad - though he says the likely absence of Ben Stokes will significantly hamper the tourists, principally their batting.
"The bowling line-ups are world class, and I think they're going to have a big say on each Test match," he added.
"Anderson and Broad - I'm not sure about England's third quick, probably (Chris) Woakes - but those two blokes can destroy games and destroy line-ups, and they're proven good bowlers over here. Anderson's gotten better in these conditions and Broad likes the pace."
On Stokes, who is not being considered for selection while the police investigation into his arrest in Bristol in September continues, Harris said: "It's a big hole for England. If they lose wickets at the top, he is the one that comes out and steadies or counter-attacks.
"I'm sure Australia will be happy he's not here but they'd also want him here because you want to play against and win against the best.
"[If Stokes does play], it's going to be hostile - it's always hostile. We saw it last time with Stuart Broad - he copped a lot as well.
"I don't know Ben very well - but from what I hear he's a tough character, so I'm sure that'll just spur him on to be better."
On this week's warm-up clash at Adelaide Oval, Harris added: "We want to win. We're not here to make it easy for England - we want to make sure it's a tough prep going into a big series.
"The warm-up games can set the tone for the tour. You don't want to lose, so I guess our job is to make it as tough as we can. The Ashes are huge, so we don't want them to win - simple as that."
