Australia's Ryan Harris 'ready' for Ashes after impressing against Kent
Sunday 28 June 2015 12:37, UK
Ryan Harris has declared himself fit for the Investec Ashes after finally overcoming 15 months of persistent knee problems.
The paceman grabbed two wickets in 16 overs in the tourists' first warm-up game against Kent at Canterbury on Saturday - a spell he believes sets him up for the Ashes opener in Cardiff on July 8.
Harris, 35, understands why coach Darren Lehmann dubbed him "short of a gallop" earlier this week, but is determined to convince him he should be in Australia's XI at Sophia Gardens.
"My knee gets sore but my body itself feels really good," he said.
"I don't feel I've bowled many overs at all, which I haven't felt in a long, long time. To grab a couple of wickets and some rhythm was very satisfying. Everyone should be fighting for those Test spots.
"I haven't thought too much about it: I'm here to play five Tests and I want to play as much as I can.
"I'm just here to try to get some rhythm, get some wickets and make it hard for the selectors to pick a bowling group for that first Test.
"Hopefully I'm in it, but if I'm not then someone else is doing a better job and hopefully we're winning Test matches and that's the way it goes.
"I think I'm pretty good, but Darren was probably correct in saying what he did because I haven't had too many games, and it's hard to simulate this match intensity.
"It was quite sore on Friday night but I came out this morning and bowled and I'm doing that quite well. It didn't stop me from bowling and that's good, and it's only going to get better."
