Ryan Harris loss a huge blow to Australia’s Ashes hopes with questions marks around Mitchell Johnson in England, says Rodney Hogg

RODNEY Hogg says the loss of Ryan Harris is a huge blow for Australia’s Ashes hopes and has questioned Mitchell Johnson’s ability to dominate in England.

CARDIFF, WALES - JULY 05: Australian Cricketer Ryan Harris enjoys a beer after yesterday announcing his retirement from cricket due to a knee injury at the Tynant Inn on July 5, 2015 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

FORMER Ashes hero Rodney Hogg says the retirement of Ryan Harris is a “monumental” loss for Australia and has questioned Mitchell Johnson’s ability to dominate in English conditions.

Harris announced over the weekend that knee problems had forced an end to his career at 35, less than a week before the first Test starts in Cardiff on Wednesday.

While Johnson tore England apart with a 37-wicket demolition in the 2013/14 series, the left-armer wasn’t chosen for the 2013 Ashes tour a few months earlier.

And in 2009 Johnson was weighed down by a lack of confidence and non-stop taunts from the English fans, resulting in a modest return of 20 wickets in five matches.

“He’s the man we wanted, so it’s a real bonus for England that Ryan Harris isn’t playing,” Hogg told SEN Radio.

“It (the loss of Harris) is monumental because he’s the leader of the pack. As Michael Clarke said, he was always his go-to man.

Ryan Harris enjoys a well-deserved beer the day after announcing his retirement from cricket.

“Mitchell Johnson is the fastest bowler, scares everyone but we’re not too sure about him in England. He didn’t come here last time.

“Harris is the Dennis Lillee. Ryan Harris was one who was going to gain the upper ascendancy early in the series and with him gone, that attack doesn’t look as good.”

However, the former pace demon still regards the touring side as the better line-up and also mocked the captaincy of England’s Alastair Cook.

“If he keeps captaining the way he’s been then he’ll be a pretty average captain,” Hogg said. “He has a lot of room for improvement.

“I’m hearing the pitch has a little bit more pace in it so it might favour our bowlers.”

Hogg said he had no idea if in-form young all-rounder Mitch Marsh’s two centuries in the warm-up matches would be enough to win him a Test recall ahead of Shane Watson.

“It looks like you need a stick of gelignite to get Watson out of the team,” Hogg said.

Hogg predicted Victoria’s uncapped legspinner Fawad Ahmed would get a run alongside offspinner Nathan Lyon during the five-match Ashes series, as Clarke’s men confront some dry-looking decks.

“I’m putting a bit of money on Nathan Lyon to take the most wickets in the series,” Hogg said.

“He is underrated. They have a lot of left-handed batsmen and they’ll be preparing dry wickets.

“At some stage Fawad will play.”

Originally published as Ryan Harris loss a huge blow to Australia’s Ashes hopes with questions marks around Mitchell Johnson in England, says Rodney Hogg