Grace Harris has declared she is ready to become the Selleys sealant of Australia’s Twenty20 World Cup campaign, promising to adequately fill any gap left by Alyssa Healy’s foot injury.
Healy remains in doubt for Australia’s semi-final against South Africa on Thursday (early Friday AEDT), after limping off against Pakistan last week and being left on crutches in Dubai.
Officials are holding out some hope that Healy can feature in the World Cup again, with a three-day gap before the final as Australia pursue a fourth straight title.
But regardless, Harris is confident she is ready to fill the void for as long as required at the top of the Australian order.
An opener at WBBL level, Harris had only filled the role three times for Australia before this year’s World Cup.
She then batted at No.5 against New Zealand, got a first-ball duck, and didn’t feature again until called in at the top in place of Healy against India and hitting 40.
“I’m taking my career inspiration at the moment from Selleys no-more-gaps, multi-purpose,” Harris quipped.
“I’m just trying to plug holes wherever I can in this team.
“I have always wanted to be a more versatile player, and never wanted to just be pigeon-holed as an athlete, and I try and make the most of any opportunity I get.
“But I do have to say my golden-ball duck against New Zealand must have been so good because I have ended up opening the batting. It’s outstanding.”
Harris does, however, insist that she can feel comfortable at the top of the order by simple tweaks in training such as facing newer balls against the quicks and asking for more short-pitched bowling.
“Admittedly you just have to watch the ball and hit it still, they’re the basics,” Harris said.
“But it’s how you prepare. In the middle order you’re preparing for a lot more change ups, the shine is off the ball so you’re not too concerned about swing or seam.
“Up front you have two people out so less space to score easy singles, and you have to worry about the moving ball more.”
Much like this World Cup, Harris’ career has been a rollercoaster to this point.
Best known for her hard-hitting exploits for Brisbane in the WBBL, Harris had to wait seven years after her 2016 Australian debut to play in a World Cup match.
She batted No.4 in last year’s final against South Africa, but expected to spend the rest of the this World Cup mixing drinks, completing puzzles and doing paint-by-numbers before Healy’s injury.
Now, it is possible the biggest matches of the Queenslander’s career are ahead of her as an opener in the T20 World Cup finals.
“It’ll be something I will probably reflect on after I finish the week,” Harris said.
“But at the moment I feel pretty grateful that the selectors had the faith in me to open with me.
“I’m just trying to stay as happy and regular as I always am.
“I don’t necessarily think about selection, it’s about how I can fit in and what role I can play.
“If not, there are worse things to do than run drinks for this team. The old 12th man bar and bistro, I am good on the post-mixes.”
