Kevin Pietersen has explained why he rates Australia hero Ryan Harris as the ‘best fast bowler’ he faced during his England career.
Pietersen took guard against some of the greatest bowlers in history during a brilliant international career that spanned almost a decade.
The 45-year-old made his breakthrough during the iconic 2005 Ashes, taking on the likes of Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne and Brett Lee to help England reclaim the urn for the first time since 1987.
Pietersen went on to amass over 8,000 Test runs – the sixth-most by an Englishman – and 32 international centuries across red and white-ball cricket.
One of the most talented batters of his generation, Pietersen is well-placed to rank the best bowlers he came up against and has hailed ex-Australia pacer Harris as the ‘best’ he faced.
Reoccurring injury issues restricted Harris to just 27 Test appearances but he took 113 wickets in that time at an average of 23.
Harris, an incredibly accurate and skilful bowler, was particularly effective against England, taking 57 wickets across three Ashes series.
Pietersen described Harris as a ‘proper bowler’ and says he was the ‘best fast bowler’ he faced and even better than Australia legend McGrath.
‘Ryan Harris was the best Australia bowler I ever faced,’ Pietersen told former Australia wicketkeeper Brad Haddin on the Willow Talk Cricket Podcast.
‘Best Australia bowler I faced, the best. Better than Glenn McGrath, better than anyone, he was the No. 1. He hit the bat so hard and he had two types of bouncers… what a guy and what a competitor.
‘He was the best I ever faced. Obviously Warnie was the best in the spinning world but in terms of fast bowlers, that guy was the best I faced.
‘He was always on and always attacking the stumps. He reverse swung the ball both ways, he bowled good heat, he hit the bat so hard.
‘People talk about his accuracy but if he wanted to tell you he was there he could do that very quickly with a quick, little bumper. He was a proper bowler.’
Harris, who made his debut for Australia at the age of 29, hung up his boots in 2015 after another injury ruled him out of that summer’s Ashes series.
‘I have had a wonderful career and nothing made me prouder than pulling on the Baggy Green,’ he said at the time.
‘I played 27 more Tests than I ever thought I would and I have relished every single moment of them.
‘Given the news I received yesterday and after talking it over with my family, I know now is the right time to step away from cricket.’
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