The Yorkshire County Cricket Club is delighted to announce that its overseas player for the 2010 season will be 30-year-old Australian paceman Ryan Harris.

Harris is a bowling all-rounder who bowls with genuine pace and scores valuable runs down the order. Playing for Queensland last winter he was their leading wicket-taker, finishing one wicket behind the leading wicket-taker in the Sheffield Shield, James Hopes, after suffering a broken foot towards the end of the Australian summer. He finished with 33 Shield wickets at 26.48. Harris made his solitary One-Day International appearance for Australia in January 2009 when he appeared to have secured his place on the Test tour of South Africa before the foot injury ruined his chances.

Shortly after being selected in Australia ’s Twenty20 squad in early 2009, Harris was a part of the Deccan Chargers squad that won the Indian Premier League in 2009. He was signed by the Deccan Chargers as an ‘uncapped player’ at the request of their Head Coach, Darren Lehmann. As a result he did not have to go through the standard IPL auction process.

Born in New South Wales, Harris made his first class debut in 2001-02 and graduated from the Commonwealth Bank Cricket Academy in 2002. He played for the Southern Redbacks (South Australia) from 2001/02 to 2007/08 and was named in the ACA Johnnie Walker 2007-08 Pura Cup Team of the Year and repeated the feat as 12th man in the 2008-09 all-star side. He moved to play for the Queensland Bulls in 2008.

Harris is a strong player in all forms of the game and comes to Yorkshire as a direct replacement for Rana Naved-ul-Hasan after being highly recommended by Darren Lehmann (former YCCC player) and Troy Cooley (former England and current Australian bowling coach).

Ryan Harris said"It is great to be a part of the Club for next summer and I’m really looking forward to the challenge of English county cricket. When I got the call asking me if I wanted to go and play in Yorkshire I jumped at the chance. When I was playing with Darren Lehmann he would come back to Adelaide and always talk about Yorkshire and he really enjoyed his time there and it will be great to get over and see where he is a very much-liked person. It’s good to be going to what sounds like a very passionate Club.”

Yorkshire have recently parted company with Deon Kruis (retired), Matthew Hoggard and Rana Naved who will not be returning in 2010 so the overseas bowler role at Yorkshire will be as much about guiding the young bowlers into the 1st Team as it will be about taking wickets. Harris is looking forward to the challenge: “I’ve spoken to Martyn Moxon about my role with the county and I do love the chance to speak to younger bowlers. The average age of the bowling attack in a match Queensland are playing now is about 20 and I have that same role back home and it is something that I am definitely looking forward to doing when I get over there.”

And Harris, whose only previous experience of County Championship cricket was a short spell with Surrey in June 2009, is keen to take wickets for Yorkshire and remind the Australian selectors that he is keen for further international honours: “I’ve had a couple of injuries at the wrong times, but I still feel I’m good enough to get into the Australian side. The desire is still there and if I come over to Yorkshire and perform well I can put my name up again in front of the selectors. Wanting to represent Australia is something that’s definitely still there in my heart.”

Martyn Moxon, Yorkshire’s Director of Professional Cricket, said:“Ryan comes highly recommended by a number of people in Australia for his all-round abilities. He is an opening bowler who is also useful with the bat and an outstanding fielder. I am delighted that Ryan is able to be with us for the whole season once his IPL commitments have been fulfilled. He fits perfectly into our desire to build an energetic and vibrant team for the future.”

Stewart Regan, Yorkshire ’s Chief Executive, said: “I think the signing of Ryan Harris is tremendous news for the Club. He brings experience, quality and both a desire to impress the Yorkshire public and those back in Australia . To have Ryan signed up now means we can concentrate our efforts wholeheartedly on preparing for next summer. We have 11 players away this winter with various England sides which shows the talent we have in our ranks at Headingley Carnegie. Add a quality overseas signing and we have every reason to look forward to next summer.”