Upbeat Harris raring to shake specialist fielder tag

Safe to say, Grace Harris is itching to spend some time in the middle.

The hard-hitting allrounder made a long-awaited return to international cricket in January, recalled for the T20I leg of Australia's Ashes campaign.

But despite making Australia's XI for each of their four T20Is this year, she has not been required to bat or bowl in any of those games.

Poor weather – two of those games were washed out – and the good form of her teammates – Australia won both completed games by nine wickets – have conspired to leave Harris a specialist fielder.

But the upbeat 28-year-old has a knack for taking things in her stride and is content to bide her time until her opportunity does eventually arise.

"I'm very much raring to go for actual game time," Harris told cricket.com.au earlier this month.

"Even in the (intra-squad warm-up) recently, I was on one and Annabel Sutherland played a straight drive as I was backing up and I got run out, because Alana King touched the ball.

"I said, 'come on, Shell, put me back in please'.

"I'm champing at the bit to get out in the middle and just really enjoy playing games ... if I get a chance, I'm definitely keen to actually don the pads in the middle and not just get pad rash.

"It's tough competition for spots in this Australian set-up, but if I get selected, I'm ready to go, and if I don't, then I'm ready to annoy all the other drinks runners."

Harris has fond memories of Ireland, having made her debut in Dublin in 2015 when she was given a chance in a three-game T20 series that was squeezed in between the Test and T20 legs of the multi-format women's Ashes.

And she seized the opportunity against Australia's lower-ranked rivals, crashing 58 runs at a strike rate of 193 and claiming three wickets to be named player-of-the-series.

So far, a washout against Pakistan and a big win over Ireland in the T20 tri-series have meant Harris hasn't yet been able to replicate that 2015 display, but two games remain before the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

If Harris does get her chance in Australia's upcoming games it will be in the middle-order, where her powerful batting would see her play a 'finisher' role.

Image Id: C739B5EAA26843D5875A72A66C7C40FB Image Caption: Harris during a training session in Bready, Northern Ireland ahead of the tri-series // Nick Price-cricket.com.au

"If I'm going to bat in the middle-order, I don't care about my strike rate, but I just want my scoring shot percentage to go up a little bit," she said.

"So I'm just trying to score off every ball and play the game that's in front of me a bit."

She's also got her sights set on the weapon that has made her sister Laura a finishing force for Brisbane Heat in the WBBL.

"I've been jealous of my sister recently and how she takes a knee and can just reverse it over point for six … give me a few months and I might work on that one too," Harris said.

"I have (asked her for tips) but she won't spill them. I think she's worried I might overtake her.

"So there's a little bit of sibling rivalry there and competitiveness. It's not my strength right now (but) I'm working on it."

Friendly rivalry aside, the Harris sister act will continue in Weber WBBL|08 after the Brisbane Heat confirmed on Wednesday both Grace and Laura had signed new deals with the club.

Grace embraced the roles of 'drinks carrier' and 'tourist' throughout the 50-over World Cup in New Zealand in April when she was unable to break into an unbeaten XI during the tournament.

And if she does find herself again limited to off-field roles throughout the Ireland tri-series and Commonwealth Games, it goes without saying the extroverted Queenslander will make the most of the experience.

She already plans to claim a key position at the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony, and if COVID-19 restrictions allow, she is eager to cheer on Australia's swimmers alongside colourful coach Dean Boxall.

"If I get (to the opening ceremony), I'm going to try and get right up the front where the flag is, that's my aim," Harris laughed.

"Anything I do, I try to have fun. That was a great experience just actually being (in New Zealand) for a World Cup.

"It's different to regular series, you sing the national anthem every game, you're in front of big crowds and it's a big spectacle in itself – so that experience was fantastic and I really enjoyed that part of it.

"(The Commonwealth Games) is (another) unique experience and only something you get to do once in your lifetime if you're really lucky."

The Harris sisters' re-signing was one of three new WBBL deals confirmed on Wednesday. The Heat have just four spots left to fill on their WBBL|08 list, including two overseas berths.

Meanwhile, Naomi Stalenberg has penned a new one-year deal with Hobart Hurricanes, and Jemma Barsby has re-signed with Adelaide Strikers.

Australia's Tour of the UK, 2022

Australia's squad: Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes (vc), Darcie Brown, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Heather Graham, Grace Harris, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Tahlia McGrath, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Amanda-Jade Wellington

T20 Tri-Series

Ireland squad: Laura Delany (c), Ava Canning, Rachel Delaney, Georgina Dempsey, Amy Hunter, Arlene Kelly, Gaby Lewis, Sophie MacMahon, Jane Maguire, Cara Murray, Leah Paul, Orla Prendergast, Rebecca Stokell, Mary Waldron

Pakistan squad: Bismah Maroof (c), Aimen Anwar, Aliya Riaz, Anam Amin, Ayesha Naseem, Diana Baig, Fatima Sana, Gul Feroza, Iram Javed, Kainat Imtiaz, Muneeba Ali Siddiqui, Nida Dar, Omaima Sohail, Sadia Iqbal, Tuba Hassan

July 16: Australia v Pakistan: no result

July 17: Australia defeated Ireland by nine wickets

July 19: Pakistan defeated Ireland by 13 runs (DLS)

July 21: Australia v Ireland

July 23: Australia v Pakistan

July 24: Ireland v Pakistan

All matches start 4pm local time (1am AEST) and played at Bready Cricket Club, Derry, Northern Ireland

Australia's T20 tri-series matches will be broadcast in Australia on Foxtel and Kayo Sports, while the games between Pakistan and Ireland can be watched via live stream here

2022 Commonwealth Games

July 29 v India (11am local time, 8pm AEST)

July 31 v Barbados (6pm local, 3am Aug 1 AEST)

August 3 v Pakistan (11am local, 8pm AEST)

Group A: Australia, India, Pakistan, Barbados

Group B: England, New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka

Semi-finals: August 6, 11am local (8pm AEST) and 6pm local (3am Aug 7 AEST)

Bronze medal match: August 7, 10am local (7pm AEST)

Gold medal match: August 7, 5pm local (2am Aug 8 AEST)

All matches played at Edgbaston Stadium