'Statistically' Harris one of best Oz bowlers of 'all time', says Oz media

The Australian media has backed bowling coach Craig McDermott's description of pace bowler Ryan Harris as 'almost' one of the best bowlers in Australia of all time, according to figures.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, although putting Harris in all-time best class in a country, which includes Fred Spofforth, Dennis Lillee, Glenn McGrath and Darren Lehmann, is startling, it however, is not a casual line as Harris boasts the best strike-rate of any Australian bowler in the past century and the fourth-best ever despite his 16 Tests.

The report mentioned that Harris takes a wicket every 46 balls, which are two more balls than Spofforth and two better than current fast bowlers Doug Bollinger and James Pattinson, adding that globally, only South African stars Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander are the only contemporaries who are more regular wicket-takers than Harris.

According to the report, Harris' superior strike-rate shows why the England batsmen cannot relax against him, adding that the pacer, who has an average of 22.26, was all over them from the moment he returned to the Test team at Lord's in July.

The report also said that only three Australian bowlers since World War II (who have bowled 2000 balls or more) have conceded fewer runs per wicket than Harris - McGrath, all-rounder Alan Davidson and Ernie Toshack.