Proteas
Harris: I'll fight for my spot
2011-06-22 16:00
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Cape Town - Proteas Test spinner Paul Harris says he is ready to fight for a spot in the Proteas side.
Harris has been mainly used as a defensive spinner in Test matches for the Proteas over the last four years.
After a successful World Cup performance, Pakistan-born leg spinner Imran Tahir now looks set to spearhead the South African spin attack in all forms of the game, with Harris destined to be out in the international wilderness.
Tahir's heroics won him a national contract, while Harris' contract was not renewed by Cricket South Africa (CSA), a decision that surprised the lanky slow left-armer.
"I was quite surprised when I lost my national contract," he told the
website ESPN Cricinfo. "I was told they (CSA) were looking for a more attacking bowler, but I can't say there is any bad blood between us."
But Harris says he is keen to fight for a spot in the national team.
"I was offered a Kolpak contract about a month ago but I turned it down because I definitely still want to play for South Africa," said Harris.
Harris believes he could play alongside Tahir in the Proteas' bowling lineup.
According to
ESPN Cricinfo, in a bid to prove himself, he has left the Lions franchise and gone back to the Titans, where he played when he was first selected for the national team. There (at the Titans) he played alongside Tahir in a successful duel-spinner lineup.
"When Richard Pybus was coaching us, Imran and I bowled a lot together and we won a few trophies."
Harris firmly believes the function of a defensive bowler cannot be underestimated.
"If you have Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel and Tahir, they are all attacking so there is no-one to hold up the other end and that's also important."
National convenor of selectors, Andrew Hudson, also believes Harris may still play a role in future for the Proteas."We will need someone to keep the other end tight. The door is definitely not shut on him, I still think he has a lot of cricket left in him," said Hudson.
"But the emergence of Imran Tahir and some really good performances by spinners at the World Cup has made things a little more difficult for Paul."