Currying favour: 'We can't say no to pre-Ashes India tour'

Ryan Harris admits it is far from ideal that Australia will arrive home from the subcontinent more than a week after England land here before the Ashes but acknowledges: ''We can't say no to India''.

The major force in the generation of cricket revenue across the globe, India will host Australia in a Twenty20 game and then seven one-day internationals from next month. The final game of that series, in Bangalore, is on November 2, less than three weeks before the first Ashes Test starts at the Gabba.

Pressure: Ryan Harris says there is doubt in the English batting line-up. Photo: Reuters

But due to the enormous power the Board of Control for Cricket in India wields in world cricket, and thethere following the limited-overs series in England for duties with their T20 Champions League franchises.

Harris, speaking at the Australian Cricketers' Association golf day to support the organisation's player hardship fund at NSW Golf Club, is confident the schedule will not jeopardise Ashes preparations.

''I think there are two Shield games they may get before the first Test so it's not as if they are coming off nothing,'' he said. ''They will cope OK.''

Harris, who will be 34 by the time the return Ashes series starts, also agreed with coach Darren Lehmann's claims on Monday that Australia's bowlers had, despite not winning a Test in enemy territory, worked out and identified vulnerabilities in Alastair Cook's batting order.

''I think we did,'' said Harris, who was outstanding with 24 wickets in four