Sydney: Veteran Australian paceman Ryan Harris has undergone surgery on his knee, but faces a long rehabilitation and is likely to be sidelined until October, Cricket Australia said on Wednesday.
Harris, acclaimed a hero after battling through the pain barrier to spearhead his country to a dramatic series victory over South Africa in Cape Town last week, went under the knife on Tuesday.
"Ryan underwent surgery yesterday on his right knee, which included a clean out of some loose bits of bone and removing bone spurs within the joint," said team physiotherapist Alex Kountouris.
"Ryan will be on crutches for a few weeks and we expect a long rehabilitation period.
"Hopefully for Ryan he will be fit to play in the Test series against Pakistan later in the year but we will continue to assess his progress over the period."
Australia are due to face Pakistan in three Tests in October before hosting India later in the year. Despite being 34, Harris said he was determined to bounce back.
"I will be back. I've read a few little comments here and there in papers that it could be the end of me, but I'm not done yet," he said on Tuesday ahead of the operation in Melbourne.
