Harris's injury at IPL throws Aus Ashes plans in disarray

Throwing hot water on Australia’s much awaited Ashes-winning plans, fast bowler Ryan Harris has returned home with an injury from the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL).

Harris, who has been playing with IPL team Kings XI Punjab, has arrived in Sydney for scans of an achilles tendon injury, and may be out for six to eight weeks, giving a headache to captain Michael Clarke as the Ashes is less than 11 weeks away, News.com.au reports.

The report further suggested that Harris's heavy late season workload in domestic games has contributed to his latest injury fiasco, adding that Harris had insisted going to the IPL to keep up his fast bowling momentum before the Ashes even though Cricket Australia`s (CA) tried to dissuade him from joining the Indian Twenty20 tournament.

According to a source, although Harris may soon recover from his injury, but tendon injuries are very hard to get right and are unpredictable. According to the report, adding to Australia`s concerns is that young Test fast bowler Mitchell Starc has been recovering slowly since ankle surgery and it is believed he will miss the Champions Trophy tournament preceding the Ashes.

Photograph: BCCI