Ryan Harris not likely to be picked for World Cup, James Pattinson favours grade cricket over BBL

DESPITE his Test form Ryan Harris doesn’t believe he is in Australia calculations for February’s ICC World Cup.

Day 5 Test India v Australia Ryan Harris Picture:Wayne Ludbey

IT remains to be seen whether Ryan Harris’ lion-hearted feats at the MCG will bring him back into calculations for February’s World Cup, but at the moment it seems unlikely.

Speaking before the Melbourne Test, Harris revealed he wasn’t in Australia’s plans for the showpiece tournament and gave no indication that was likely to change.

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If anything was to prompt selectors to reassess, it would have been his classy man-of-the-match performance against India, where Harris gave a tantalising insight into what he might be able to offer opening the bowling with two white balls in a World Cup final at the same iconic venue.

But the fact is, it might already be too late.

If Harris wasn’t named in Australia’s confidentially kept 30-man squad, he can’t then be considered for the final 15-man party to be announced on January 11.

Pat Cummins is set to be named, but it appears fellow young gun James Pattinson won’t be considered and is being groomed more for red-ball cricket further down the track.

Xavier Doherty is the frontrunning spinner, but the selection of Ashton Agar in the Test squad for Sydney suggests he may also be in contention, given his abilities with the bat and in the field.

Australia is blessed with huge depth in the fast bowling department, and while Harris’ body has allowed him to become a regular member of the Test side over recent seasons, he hasn’t played an ODI in nearly three years.

But he’s a proven matchwinner, and averages 18.9 with the ball in ODIs.

Harris told News Corp before the Melbourne Test that he expects selectors are going in a different direction.

“I would have loved to have played in the World Cup and been a part of it, but I haven’t been mentioned in it,” said Harris.

Ryan Harris has played 21 ODI matches for Australia.

“I haven’t spoken or had any conversation with the coach or captain or selectors which is fine with me.

“I’d have loved to have been a part of it but having said that, I haven’t played one-day cricket in two years so the guys who have been mentioned, Johnson, Starc, Hazlewood, Cummins — far out.

“It’s all well and good to say I want to be there, but I’ve got to be playing to show I can play one-day cricket. I didn’t do it again this year with the Matador Cup.

“In theory it would have been great, but it’s going to be very, very hard with guys we’ve had in there for such a long time.”

Pattinson took a sizzling 3-24 in his Big Bash League return for the Melbourne Renegades on Tuesday night.

The 24-year-old has been bowling with searing pace and a rejuvenated action in the nets for Australia this Test series, with his comeback from a latest back injury going as well as expected.

But it’s understood Pattinson will forgo BBL matches to go back to grade cricket.

Selectors have been keen to keep the injury-prone Cummins away from red-ball cricket for as long as possible, but it’s the opposite for Pattinson.

The plan for him appears to have him on deck for Victoria in the back end of the Sheffield Shield season and for him then to be in contention for a Test return in the West Indies.

“It’s great for Patto,” said Harris last week.

“He’s made a few changes with bowling coach Craig McDermott and he’s still getting used to those changes, but seeing him bowl — he’s bowling quick, fast, bouncy outswingers — so hopefully his body gets used to that and maintains that.

“It’s great to see him get back, getting close to (the Ashes) in England, that’s probably going to be the right time for him as well.”

Harris says Cummins is “flying” and also threw in-form West Australian Jason Behrendorff into the mix as a World Cup candidate.

Shaun Marsh says Agar has learnt consistency in the 18 months since his whirlwind Ashes debut and axing.

Originally published as Ryan Harris not likely to be picked for World Cup, James Pattinson favours grade cricket over BBL