The Welsh pace-man arrived at Lord’s last summer amid much fanfare of trumpets, being touted as the next big thing in terms of English quick bowlers only to endure something of an Annus Horribilis as niggling injuries derailed his debut campaign.
Only 21 Championship wickets came his way at an average of more than 38, but the powers that be refused to lose faith, selecting the 23-year-old for tour duties to Sri Lanka.
Harris did not manage to get himself into the starting XI on the sub-continent, but says still being in the selectors minds gave him a mental lift and the work done should help him hit the ground running.
“It was a confidence boost to be called up again to the Lions squad after the injury problems of last year because it shows people have faith in what I can do,” he said.
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“Certainly the time I spent in Sri Lanka without being able to force myself into the team, so not playing a lot of cricket, was great because I have my body in good shape hopefully or as bullet-proof as it can be.
“I got to do a lot of bowling and technical work without all the rigours of playing throughout a winter and tiring yourself out before you get to the summer.”
Harris revealed the source of his niggles in 2013 appeared to be offshoots of a double hernia operation undergone at the end of the 2011 season.
Extensive work to the groin in that surgery fixed that problem, but spawned the difficulties suffered 18 months on with his hamstring and side.
However, the man who became the youngest ever to take 10 wickets in a match when taking 12-118 for previous county Glamorgan against Gloucestershire in 2007 aged just 17, believes those trials are now behind him.
“I can sit here honestly and say I did not have the greatest year last year and I was disappointed more by the way that I couldn’t seem to keep myself on the field and get a good enough run of games on the board to find some form,” he added.
“The annoying thing was they were little niggling injuries. It was a little hamstring nick there and a little bit of a sore side and stuff – sometimes you’d prefer to break a finger as you know there is nothing you can do then.
“The latest theory is what was happening was happening either side of the groin where they had cut and sewn bits up as the side and hamstrings are all linked, so kind of a trade-off.
“The interesting thing about hamstrings is according to the latest thinking sprinting is the best thing for them. You apparently strengthen them and keep them strong by sprinting, so we are doing as much as possible.”
