December 21, 2013 4:40:08 am
Australias Ashes triumph has been cast as a fairytale swansong for an ageing team,but 34-year-old paceman Ryan Harris has urged selectors not to pension off the greybeards needlessly. Harris has hit back at claims the series was the last hurrah. At 34 and after a litany of career-interrupting injuries,the pacer has learnt to play every test as if its his last.
In fact,six of the 11 that trounced England,including 32-year-old captain Michael Clarke,wicketkeeper Brad Haddin and opening batsman Chris Rogers both 36,and 32-year-old captain Michael Clarke struggling to manage a back condition,are over 30 and have played in three straight matches to win back the coveted urn are over 30,and Australia may bring a very different team for the next Ashes in 2015.
Former coach Mickey Arthur,who was sacked before the first of the back-to-back Ashes series in England,cast doubt on the longevity of some of the players,including captain Michael Clarke. I read Mickey Arthurs comments about the need to rebuild,and I dont really want to get into it because I dont want to start another furore. But I think hes wrong, Harris said in a column published by Melbournes The Age newspaper on Friday. If youre older an youre good enough to play at this level,then you should be picked. If you nick off all your old blokes,who are the younger ones going to learn from?
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