Harris named Bowling Coach for SA Tour

Former Test quick Ryan Harris has been unveiled as Australia's Bowling Coach for the Qantas Tour of South Africa later this month.

Harris, who retired from international cricket last year, will work under Bupa Support Team Head Coach Darren Lehmann and alongside newly installed Assistant Coach David Saker for the ODI tour that includes five matches against the Proteas and one against Ireland.

The 36-year-old, who announced his retirement from playing on the eve of last year’s Ashes series, has made no secret of his desire to move into coaching and put his hand up to take over as full-time Assistant Coach when Craig McDermott stood down earlier this year.

But having been overlooked for that role, Harris says he's looking forward to working with Saker, who has vast experience working with both England and Victoria.

"I would have loved to have done it, but for me I've still got a lot to learn before I take on a role such as that," Harris told cricket.com.au of the Assistant Coach role, which was given to Saker in July.

Quick Single: Australia appoint Saker

"If I'm good enough, I'll go as far as I want to go. If I'm not and I need to work on things, then I will. That's the way I'll approach it from now on.

"You're always learning. With the playing side of things, I was always learning until the day I finished. I think if you sit there and say that you know it all as a coach, you probably should give it up.

"(Saker is) a guy I look at as someone I can learn so much off and he's had a lot of success.

"He knows the game and he's got some great ideas around the game. So to be able to spend time under him is going to be priceless for me to keep learning."

Yes Moments: 'The best ball I've bowled'

Harris will work with an inexperienced bowling group in South Africa that will be without pace spearheads Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, who have been rested. James Pattinson and Nathan Coulter-Nile will also miss due to injury, while Pat Cummins has been slated for a return to action through the Matador Cup.

Quick Single: Contenders to fill vacant spots

Saker's appointment as McDermott's permanent replacement comes after Western Australia assistant Adam Griffith and South African legend Allan Donald filled the role of bowling coach for the recent tours of the Caribbean and Sri Lanka respectively.

Harris, whose career was cut short before the Ashes last year due to his ongoing knee issues, took 117 wickets in 27 Tests and is one of only five bowlers in history to have averaged less than 20 in his ODI career.

He's taken on several coaching roles in Australian cricket since his retirement; he was named coach of the Under 19 Cricket Australia XI last summer and is currently working as an assistant with the National Performance Squad in Queensland.

His promotion to the senior side for this tour means he will return to the scene of one of his greatest achievements as a player, when he overcame a crippling knee condition to bowl Australia to a thrilling series win against South Africa in Cape Town in March 2014.

Australia's tour of South Africa begins with a one-off match against Ireland on September 27 before a five-match series against the Proteas from September 30 to October 12.