Australia fast bowler Ryan Harris has joined team mate Mitchell Johnson in criticising the unusually slow and low nature of pitches in the ongoing Test series against India, saying the pacers have had to work much harder than the last Ashes summer to get wickets.
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Harris has shown his frustration over batting friendly pitches despite Australia being 2-0 up in the four-match series with the Boxing Day Test match in Melbourne ending in a draw.
"I don't think the wickets have been as fast and bouncy. Obviously we have got results in two of the Test matches. But again as a bowling group we are always going to say we want a bit more bounce and grass. That goes without saying," Harris told reporters at the Sydney Cricket Ground ahead of the fourth and final Test starting on Tuesday.
The in-form pacer could not help missing the pace and bounce of wickets used in Australia's 5-0 whitewash of England in the Ashes last summer.
"That is what we (pace and bounce) had last year and that is where he (Johnson) excelled. Going on last year (Johnson) was able to do that because (of) obviously what Sidds (Peter Siddle) and I were doing but also the pace in the wickets. But not having that there is probably a little bit frustrating.
"In saying that we have had two results and nearly got a result in Melbourne. It is hard to fully criticise the wickets but I must admit it has been a lot harder than it was last year. Test cricket is always going to be hard - I am not saying we should get ridiculous bouncy wickets. But we go to India and get absolute shockers over there so it would be nice to get some green tops over here," said the burly speedster.
Talking about the Australia's pace attack, Harris said he would like to see the ignored Peter Siddle back in the side even though he is impressed with the way rookie Josh Hazlewood bowled in the last two Tests, the highlight being his five-wicket haul at Gabba on debut.
"I think our attack is great. We would obviously like to have Sidds in there because we have had success but that is the selectors' choice," said Harris.
"Josh Hazlewood has done a really good job. He has taken a five-for on debut. I actually thought towards the end of the game in Melbourne he was coming in and bowling good pace. I wish I had his height. I would love to have a little bit more height. Because that ball at the end was soft, it was doing nothing but a couple of his balls were bouncing through.
"Josh, the little bit I have seen of him in Shield cricket, he is good at doing that (bowling long spells) anyway. I think the experience of Sidds, we may have missed that a little bit. But the way Josh has come in and bowled and played I think has been just as good. I had a chat to Steven Smith about that in Brisbane and he said that Joshy needs to bowl longer spells, that is how he gets into his spells and gives him a chance to get the feeling," added Harris.
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