Ryan Harris, the former Australia pacer has been appointed as the bowling coach of Brisbane Heat for the upcoming season of the Big Bash League (BBL) which is scheduled to start later this year. Harris was a part of the Brisbane Heat’s inaugural signing in BBL and also played in their second championship season. He will join Brisbane Heat as a specialist bowling coach for the first half of the edition along with head coach Darren Lehmann and assistant coach James Hopes. He will depart before the end of the BBL tournament to complete his national duties as Australia’s Under-19 coach for the upcoming ICC World Under-19 Youth Cup in South Africa early in 2020.

“We used Ryan as a bowling mentor early in the BBL when he was returning from injury, and I know Dan Vettori had him on his staff in a similar role a few years ago,” added Lehmann.

Ryan Harris was considered a vital cog for Australia as their pace spearhead, who had claimed 113 Test scalps which came at 23.52. He even played in the Indian Premier League (IPL) with Deccan Chargers and King’s XI Punjab as well.

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Since his retirement in 2015, Harris has worked within Cricket Australia’s High-Performance coaching program based at the Bupa National Cricket Centre. He is currently working as Justin Langer’s bowling coach with the Australian team during the Gillette T20 International series against Sri Lanka.

“I really enjoyed my time as a player with the Heat, and it was where I got an opportunity to dip my toe in the water with regards to coaching,” Harris said.

“It’s another great chance for me to improve my coaching experience with ‘Boof’ and get ready to work with some of the country’s most talented young players at the Under-19 World Cup next year,” he concluded.