Australian fast bowler Ryan Harris putting some Australian batsmen to shame with his efforts with the willow RYAN Harris has stepped up as Australias batting bowler. Almost all series it has been the bowlers who have been forced to contribute when the batsmen have failed and it happened again tonight. Australia lost two wickets scrambling together the 16 runs required to take the lead from England, which only came when Harris smacked an imperious off drive to the boundary from Jimmy Anderson with the second new ball. Harris also climbed into Stuart Broad, striking three batsman-like boundaries in a row with a pull, flick through mid-wicket and delightful straight drive. When Harris was out for 28 it gave him a series average of 27, only marginally worse than the 28 currently sitting beside Steve Smith and Brad Haddin. It is the same as Phil Hughes and significantly better than Usman Khawaja (18), David Warner (16) and Ed Cowan (7). Heading into this Test Australia's Ashes stats sheet made embarrassing reading despite dominating the third Test at Old Trafford. Michael Clarke's 187 in Manchester was the only century and the next best score was Ashton Agar's 98 when from the 19-year-old's debut at number 11 in the first Test at Trent Bridge. The dropping of Mitchell Starc for Jackson Bird further weakened Australia's batting, with Starc clubbing an unbeaten 66 from just 71 balls with nine fours at Old Trafford. Behind Clarke the next best average was injured fast bowler James Pattinson (36) and Agar (32.5). To his enormous credit the 110 Chris Rogers made in difficult conditions over the previous two days, backing up from his sparkling 84 at Old Trafford, gave Australia a second centurion in this series. Clarke (325 runs at 54), and Rogers (295 runs at 42) are the only Australian batsmen who can feel any satisfaction with the way they have played on this tour. The only other batsman to scramble 200 runs and an average of better than 30 is Shane Watson (214 runs at 30.57) but at least the signs for him are encouraging. The 68 he made on the second day was the best Watson had batted for some. By contrast England had five players averaging above 30 heading into their second innings with Ian Bell averaging 64 thanks to a pair of centuries. Although not everything is cosy with England's batting either. When Joe Root was bowled by Harris for two yesterday it raised one of the great "what ifs" of the series, He has 260 runs at 37 for the series and 180 of those came in the second innings at Lord's when England had collapsed to 3-30. When Root was just eight he edged a ball which Brad Haddin let go sailing through to the boundary believing it was heading to first slip. Had that catch been taken would Root be still in the side? Winning the first two Tests and then saving the third through rain, England retained the Ashes and have made just one change in four Tests, Tim Bresnan for Steven Finn. Australia has instituted the revolving door policy, with reserve wicket-keeper Matt Wade and all-rounder James Faulkner the only two players in the 18-man squad not to play a Test. Australian fast bowler Ryan Harris has been impressive with the bat this Ashes series.