An eye-catching fast bowler, Ryan Harris seemed destined for journeyman status until he made his international debut in 2009 at the age of 29. By the end of the following year he had become one of Australia's most prized Test and ODI bowlers, but his worst enemy was his own body. A chronic knee injury will be with him until he retires, and in the third Ashes Test at the MCG, he broke a bone in his left ankle that required surgery and ruled him out for half a year. It was testament to how highly the selectors rated Harris that, despite being 31, they wanted him back for the 2011 Test tour of Sri Lanka. He earned that respect by grabbing nine wickets in his first two Tests in New Zealand and 11 in three Ashes Tests while some of his team-mates struggled. In his initial one-day games, he had been irresistible, with two five-wicket hauls in his first three matches. A stocky, skiddy bowler who is surprisingly fast, Harris spent nearly a decade as a fringe player with South Australia. He made great strides in 2006-07 and 2007-08, and it was surprising that the Redbacks didn't try harder to stop him moving to Queensland. He joined Sussex on his British passport in 2008, playing one game before the English county realised he had signed with Queensland as a local. In his first season for the Bulls he delivered with the ball, finishing with 33 victims at 26.48, and Australian honours weren't far away. As for how long his international career will be - ask his body.
Cricinfo staff August 2011