Clarke praises Harris after Test win against Lanka

Sydney: Australian skipper Michael Clarke has praised bowler Ryan Harris for his outstanding performance after their team’s 125-run Test victory over Sri Lanka in Galle.

Harris claimed 5-62 in Sri Lanka`s second innings, including the crucial wicket of Mahela Jayawardene for 105, as the hosts were dismissed for 253 in their second innings of the first Test on Saturday, a daily reports. It was just reward for the Queenslander, who bowled eight overs with five maidens but no wickets in the first innings. Harris, who contributed immensely to make it Clarke`s first win as Test captain, has been branded as ‘a great guy to have in the team’ by Clarke. "What a bowler. What a bloke," Clarke said, adding: "A great guy to have in your team. Will do anything for the team and at any stage, give him the new ball, give him the old ball, even into the breeze, he doesn`t care.” "He loves playing for Australia and we love having him around," Clarke said. Although Harris`s injury troubles, his dodgy knees and an ankle fracture in last year`s Boxing Day Test, have restricted the 31-year-old to just six Tests, Clarke said he was confident that Harris would continue playing Tests for a longer period of time. "He`s in pretty good hands I think, Alex (Kountouris) our physio is a genius. He manages to keep a lot of us on the park daily so I`m really confident we can keep Rhino (Harris) around for a bit longer yet," he added. ANI