Harris: Rookie bowlers won’t be scarred

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Australia assistant bowling coach Ryan Harris does not feel that the rookie bowlers being punished by South Africa in the ODI series will be scarred by the tough tour.

Daniel Worrall, Chris Tremain, and Joe Mennie were picked for the tour mainly because all Australia’s premier pacemen are either injured or being rested, and the Proteas have enjoyed batting against them.

Worrall and Mennie have not taken a wicket in the series, while Tremain is averaging around 48 with the ball. John Hastings has been their best bowler, and he averages 43.

But Harris feels they will take away positives: “I wouldn’t say they’re scarred.

“They’re asking lots of questions, a little bit to me but more so (assistant coach) David Saker.

“He (Saker) had been unreal with them, he’s been such a big help and I’ve been under his wing, listening to what he’s saying to them and giving them confidence.

“They know they haven’t bowled that well but they also know they can bowl better.

“We always talk about that word execution, we just haven’t done that.

“They’ve got to learn, there’s a little bit to go yet but we’ve all been there.

“I was there, there have been a lot of blokes (in the same position).

“There’s only so much you can do at training and nets sessions, you’ve actually got to play the game.

“They’ve said it in meetings that we’ve had – it’s a big step up from state cricket, and that’s what they’ve learned.”

Harris insisted the bowlers were much better than they’d shown on the tour: “I think they’re better than what this series has shown.

“I think coming into a series against pretty good players in their own backyard, small grounds and flat wickets it’s a bloody hard thing to do.

“We know that they’re good bowlers, there’s no doubt about that.

“They’ve got a lot of ability, it’s just when you step up in conditions that we’re in it makes it harder to learn as quick as you should, or you can.

“There’s been a lot of criticism, I’ve read some of it but they have to learn at some stage and there’s only one way to learn, and that’s to play it.

“They had an opportunity on this tour and they’ve done the best they can at the time.

“We know they need improvement, they know they need improvement and in the game (at Port Elizabeth last Sunday) I thought Tremain and Boland bowled beautifully up front.”

The sides contest the fifth and final ODI on Wednesday in Cape Town, where the Aussies will be looking to avoid their first five-match series whitewash.

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