Johannesburg (S. Africa), Nov.1 (ANI): Australian fast bowler Ryan Harris likes to enjoy a beer with his teammates, but is perfectly willing to make the sacrifice of not having a swig if it enables him to prolong his Test career.
A broken ankle that cut short his Ashes campaign last summer forced him to put things in perspective.
Harris knows the beers can stay on ice, and, there's no telling how much longer his body will be up to the rigours of cricket at the highest level.
Not that he's on a total booze ban as he gears for the two-Test series in South Africa. But he's determined to get the most from the final years of his late-blossoming career.
"I love having a beer but, sometimes, it's not the best time to go have a beer," the Sydney Morning Herald quoted Harris, as saying on Monday.
He added: "I've just got to pick and choose my times now, which is fine. That sort of stuff doesn't bother me because it means I'm playing for Australia. Not that there's a lot (of drinking) done these days because there's not enough time ... it's always hard leaving the guys when you have a team gathering and you have to go to bed early."
"But if it means getting yourself ready for the next game, then that's what you've got to do," Harris said.
"There's going to be plenty of time in five years to have a beer and all that sort of stuff when I finish playing," he added.
The 32-year-old Harris is a fascinating paradox. He's considered the leader and central figure of the Australian attack. Yet he only made his Test debut in March last year and has managed just seven appearances (taking 31 wickets at 20.9).
The high esteem in which he is held speaks volumes for his talent and also what a force Harris might have been if not cursed by injury.
But there's no use lamenting his chronic knee problem or the list of other issues that have seen him break down over the years.
"I've got myself fit and I think we've got eight Tests between now and the end of that summer. I want to play in every one of them," said Harris. (ANI)
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