Photo Credit: Queensland Cricket
Former Test star Ryan Harris will look to develop the next generation of stars as well as provide a guiding hand for today’s maroon grown heroes when he returns to a full-time role with Queensland Cricket next month.
The ex-Queensland and Australian pace bowling ace has been appointed as Queensland Cricket’s Pathways coach and talent manager where he will oversee Queensland youth cricket.
He will also serve as a State selector alongside chair Chris Hartley and Bulls coach Wade Seccombe, commencing his new Queensland role in August.
Harris, who was involved as a coach in the 2018 and 2020 Australian Under-19 World Cup campaigns, was also a bowling consultant under national coach Justin Langer with the Australian men’s squad.
He has recently worked as the bowling coach with the Australian Women’s team and has also been the bowling coach with the Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League last year and the Brisbane Heat in the BBL in 2019.
Harris, who moved to Queensland from South Australia in 2008, retired in 2015 after a late-blooming but glittering career that saw him snare 113 wickets at 23.52 in just 27 Tests as well as representing his country in ODI and T20 cricket.
He took 101 first class wickets for the Bulls and featured in Sheffield Shield and domestic one-day championship teams for Queensland as well as being the inaugural signing for the Brisbane Heat.
Queensland Cricket Head of Male Performance Wade Seccombe welcomed the appointment of Harris.
“Ryan has earned glowing reports from wherever he has coached and we’re very pleased to give him the responsibility of overseeing the development of future generations of Queensland players,’’ he said.
“He will have the opportunity to work with our talented young male players as we resume the Pathways programs that had to be put on hold last year due to COVID-19.
“His background as a High-Performance coach at the Bupa National Cricket Centre and his involvement with other national programs and squads ensures our emerging players will have a wealth of knowledge and experience to draw upon.”
“It’s great to have him back with Queensland Cricket and we’re excited to be working with him again.”
Harris will complement the existing coaching at QC that also includes Andy Bichel, James Hopes and Darren Lehmann.
Queensland recently had four players chosen in the CA XI that will play Northern Territory Strike XI in the Chamber NT Top End Series beginning this Sunday in Darwin.
Allrounders Josh Kann (Gold Coast) and Noah McFadyen (Norths), both currently playing in the NT, will be joined by the teenage trio of Redlands batsman Dylan Kritzinger, Toombul wicket-keeper Toby Snell and Redlands off-spinner Jackson Sinfield in the squad.
The 15-player squad is subject to fitness and availability for selection due to state border restrictions.
The Top End Series will see the CA XI play a NT Strike team in three 50 over matches on the 1st, 4th, and 8th of August.
Name of Author: Queensland Cricket
Queensland Cricket, previously the Queensland Cricket Association, is the governing body for cricket in Queensland, Australia. Established in 1876, it oversees the Queensland Bulls, Queensland Fire, Allan Border Field, and Queensland Premier Cricket. Terry Svenson is the current CEO, and Kirsten Pike is the Chair of the Board of Directors.
