rkt.india Posted November 5, 2014 Posted November 5, 2014 THE pace battery that routed England last summer is on track to do the same to India now the leader of the attack, Ryan Harris, is back bowling in the nets. Harris is hoping to play in Queensland’s second Shield match, against WA in Perth from November 8, which means he should be available for the First Test at the Gabba on December 4. Harris hasn’t bowled since taking seven wickets in the series-deciding win over South Africa in Cape Town. “I’ve been playing grade cricket as a batsman — it’s been good conditioning for me just to stand in the field and get some miles in the legs,†Harris said. “The second round of Sheffield Shield games is the one I’m targeting for my return. “I’m bowling a fair bit in the nets with decent intensity, so I feel like I’m almost ready to go.†With 22 wickets at 19.31 last summer, Harris routinely picked off England’s top order before Mitchell Johnson (37 at 13.97) ran through the rest. Peter Siddle (16 at 24.12) rounded out a pace trio that rivalled the best in the nation’s history. Johnson and Siddle have been joined in Dubai by Mitchell Starc and Ben Hilfenhaus for the two-Test series against Pakistan starting on Wednesday, underlining Australia’s deep reserves of pace. That Australia can field such an attack without the recovering Harris and James Pattinson bodes badly for an Indian side renowned for playing Australian pace as badly as Australians play spin in the subcontinent. Starc has long been groomed as Johnson’s successor, while Hilfenhaus was ranked in the world’s top 20 players when he last played a Test, in December, 2012. Hilfenhaus has been stranded on 99 Test wickets all that time but he might have to keep waiting given Australia seems likely to play either Starc or two spinners — or both — in the First Test this week. The good news on the home front runs deeper than Harris’s likely return for the home Indian series. Like Harris, Pattinson hasn’t bowled in anger since being diagnosed with back stress fractures after the famous Cape Town win. But, like Harris, Pattinson is playing as a batsman for his club and the Victorian 2nd XI. He appears an unlikely starter for the India series, but no one will be more interested in his progress than the tourists, given Pattinson demolished their top order in Melbourne and Sydney in 2011-12 before succumbing to a foot injury. If he does not play in the Tests, the selectors will have a ready-made express bowler to unleash in the World Cup. And if Pattinson doesn’t get you, Josh Hazlewood will. Hazlewood is very much in the frame for the Indian Tests after being the standout of the domestic one-day tournament. Pat Cummins is back bowling for NSW but, after a string of false dawns, expectations are very low for a quick return to international ranks. Jackson Bird has recovered sufficiently to bowl at half-pace in the nets ahead of an expected Shield return. And Nathan Coulter-Nile has been in great form since returning from injury. Meanwhile another echelon has stepped into the breach. Joel Paris (WA), Sam Rainbird (Tas) and Gurinder Sandhu (NSW) have all impressed in the domestic one-dayers. The last piece of good news was that Shane Watson has resumed playing after his latest injury. Watson made 37 from 43 balls for Sutherland against St George in a Twenty20 match yesterday. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/cricket/australias-stocks-speed-up-as-injured-quicks-return-to-the-crease/story-e6frg7rx-1227095484856?nk=b9f221fcf87d265bf219cb712777562f
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