Australia paceman Harris out for eight weeks

Australian paceman Ryan Harris will miss at least eight weeks of cricket after suffering a stress ankle fracture while bowling in the fourth Ashes Test, team coach Tim Nielsen said today.

Australian paceman Ryan Harris will miss at least eight weeks of cricket after suffering a stress ankle fracture while bowling in the fourth Ashes Test, team coach Tim Nielsen said on Wednesday.

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Harris, 31, who has taken 11 wickets in the Ashes series at 25.54 -- the best average of any Australian bowler in the series -- will undergo an operation and miss the rest of the series.

"The week has turned out to be a shocker... cricket obvious, but feel very sorry for R Harris... stress fracture of tibia and out for 8 weeks," Nielsen said via Twitter.

Harris, who has a history of injury problems, pulled up while bowling the fifth ball of his 29th over on Tuesday and limped from the ground with the team physio.

Australia will have to find a bowling replacement for Harris in next week's fifth Ashes Test in Sydney.