Sports
Australian bowler Ryan Harris announces retirement
Australia fast bowler Ryan Harris has retired from the sport because of a knee injury, dealing the tourists a major blow ahead of the Ashes.BBC
Harris is replaced in the Australia squad by Pat Cummins.
The 35-year-old missed Australia's final warm-up game at Essex before the first Test against England, which starts in Cardiff on 8 July.
Harris, who had surgery on his right knee last year, has taken 57 wickets at an average of 20.63 in 12 Ashes Tests.
The Sydney-born seamer has been dogged by injury problems throughout his career and missed Australia's tour to the West Indies before their arrival in England.
Harris, who played for Queensland and South Australia and in county cricket for Surrey, Sussex and Yorkshire, featured in Australia's opening tour game against Kent when he took four wickets.
But he was unable to play against Essex and scans confirmed the extent of the injury which has ended Harris' career.
Harris, who made his Test debut in 2010, took 113 wickets in 27 Test matches and 44 in 21 one-day internationals.
More than half of his Test wickets came against England with Harris invariably saving his best for the Ashes, playing an integral part as Mitchell Johnson's new-ball partner and taking 22 wickets as Australia beat England 5-0 in the last series in 2013/14.
In the absence of Harris this time, Australia are almost certain to select the left-arm pair of Johnson and Mitchell Starc for the opening Test.
Josh Hazlewood will be the favourite to take the third seamer's berth after taking 12 wickets at an average of 8.83 in Australia's recent 2-0 victory in West Indies.
Peter Siddle, who has 192 wickets in 56 Tests, is also in the squad.
Cummins, 22, took seven wickets on his Test debut against South Africa in 2011, but the New South Wales bowler has not played a Test since then due to injuries.