Australian Ashes hero Ryan Harris is reportedly considering sacrificing a six-figure salary from the Indian Premier League (IPL) to strive for one last chance at Ashes glory in England next year.
Harris, who will meet Australia's hierarchy over the next week to discuss whether he will put his name up for next month's IPL auction, is keen for more Ashes glory with the golden glow of Australia's 5-0 triumph still awash over him.
However, News.com.au reports that the wear and tear of successive Ashes series has left him needing a clean-up operation on his right knee, and Australia may urge him to have surgery after the South African tour, which would rule him out of IPL.
Harris, whose last IPL contract with King's XI Punjab was worth 350,000 dollars a year, could command much more than that for this year's tournament which starts in April, although the speedster said that he would not go to India this year if it threatened his Ashes goal as his top priorities are playing for Australia.
Stating that it is a big call for him, Harris further said that he wants to play for Australia as long as he can, especially till the 2015 Ashes series, although it admitted that it is a 'hard feeling' not to play in the IPL as financially it is very rewarding and is also an enjoyable tournament.
However, Harris said that the flip side of the problem is that he needs to have surgery on his knee, adding that if he goes to the IPL, then it would put him back for another two and a half months.