Harris leaves impression

Ryan Harris © Getty Images

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Ryan Harris’ Sussex career lasted just one match - but the Australian so impressed Chris Adams he could yet return to Hove as an overseas player one day.

Sussex captain Adams had to reflect on a troubled experience on and off the field in the LV Division One champions’ first match in pursuit of a third successive title.

After the fixture had resulted in a rain-ruined draw, with no play possible on the final day at the Rose Bowl, Adams addressed the talking point which dominated throughout.

That was the 11th-hour withdrawal of Harris and subsequent revelation that Sussex’s new signing - a domestic one by virtue of his father’s British birth - had left South Australia for Queensland, stipulating the seam-bowling all-rounder’s three-year deal required him to be available for his native Australia.

Sussex could not accommodate him on an overseas deal - master leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed is their quota under new ECB regulations - and therefore Harris’ new job was legally untenable.

Adams has been frustrated by the saga but is diplomatically prepared to cut Harris some slack - partly because he saw so much potential on debut when the 28-year-old took four wickets against MCC at Lord’s last week.

Harris made his first-class debut for Sussex at Lord's

“Disappointing is the word - to get to this stage of the season, when you’re supposed to be full of verve and excitement and dynamic energy, to lose a player like that in the manner we have lost him in,” said Adams.

“The important thing is we look at the process and make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

Adams implicitly acknowledged Harris’ eligibility was never a done deal, admitting: “Having seen him finally pull on a Sussex shirt, I thought that was an end to the matter.

“But always at the back of everybody’s mind, there was a doubt as to whether this would come off or not.”

For Sussex, the lesson learned is to take no chances in future.

“There is so much red tape and protocol to follow, and it’s unfortunate for clubs with so many parties involved - and quite a lot of land and sea between those parties - and I think the communication was poor between them all,” Adams believes.

“Certainly, we aren’t blameless in that. But we can’t dwell too much on what’s happened. We’ve got to put it to bed and look at the process of how the club recruits.

“I think we’ve all been naive - in particular, I think the player has been let down by the people who manage him.

“I feel sorry for him in that respect, because it could have been a terrific experience for him.”

Adams is convinced Harris - who had to swear an oath of his intention to play for England, before his Sussex deal could be agreed - has found the call of Australia too strong.

Chris Adams was diplomatic in his appraisal of the Australian

“I think it’s clear we now know Ryan was coming to further his experience, but his intentions were always to play for Australia and be an Australian playing in Australia,” the Sussex captain spelled out.

Asked how Harris could have sworn the required oath, he added diplomatically: “You’d have to ask him that. I guess he was probably badly advised.”

Sussex must in the first instance try to somehow make up for the absence of a player who could have helped win a fourth title in six years.

In the longer term, Adams believes Harris could be a successful overseas acquisition for any county - Sussex included - and perhaps to that end, he is burning no bridges. “He’s a smashing lad - very un-Australian,” he said.

“I think he was hoping to spend a bit more time with us, a high-performing team, to see how good he actually is.

“We’ve parted on great terms and we wish him well.

“At this moment in time he has his head on playing for Australia. We’ve only seen him in one game. But what a performance that was - he looks an amazing talent.

“Certainly keep an eye out for him in the next year or so - he may well fulfil that dream.”

Sussex, it appears, will be heeding their captain’s advice.

“That (coming back as an overseas player) is certainly an option,” he said.

“His parting words last night were that he’s been hugely impressed with the set-up we’ve got and he very much wished he could have been part of it for a bit longer.”