Harris backs Australia pacemen to step up in Cummins' absence

Ryan Harris has backed Australia's reserve pace bowlers to perform if needed in the Ashes.

Captain Pat Cummins will miss the first Test in Perth and could be out for longer, leaving Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Scott Boland as the likely starting pace trio.

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All three are in their mid-30s, so the home side could have to call on other seamers across a gruelling five-Test schedule crammed into little more than seven weeks.

Former pace bowler Harris, part of the Australia side that routed England 5-0 in 2013-14, told BBC Sport: "We've got guys there, but the only problem is they will be inexperienced.

"Brendan Doggett has been around Test squads, but not played. He's 31 and a calm head.

"I know from making my debut at 30, I was still nervous, but had played enough cricket to handle the occasion. Sean Abbott is another who has played a lot of one-day and T20 cricket for Australia, so it wouldn't be overwhelming for him. Jhye Richardson has a chance to come back late in the series.

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"Michael Neser, if they needed him to come in, he has been there and done it. Fergus O'Neill is a different kind of bowler, medium pace and very accurate. There are guys around that can fill roles if need be."

And Harris, now Doggett's head coach at South Australia, endorsed him to step up as the next cab off the rank if required.

"He's in my team and I want him to play," said Harris. "I think he would make an impact and do well at that level."

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