Ashes 2015: Ryan Harris' absence no worry for coach Jeff Thomson

London Australia fastbowling great Jeff Thomson has said the expected absence of Ryan Harris from the tourists attack for the first Test against England in Cardiff next week wont hamper the teams Ashes chancesHe also played down suggestions that Australia would have the edge over England following a 50 Ashes win on home soil in 201314 adding that if anyone might have scarring it would be the Australians given they had not won a Test series in Britain since 2001Harris was left out of Australias ongoing final warmup match against Essex after suffering a recurrence of the knee trouble that has plagued his career but with Michael Clarkes men boasting plenty of fast bowling cover Thomson said Thursday I wouldnt have had him in any waySpeaking at a press conference in London organised by series sponsors Investec Thomson said his preferred pace attack out of Australias current squad consisted of Mitchell Starc fellow leftarmer Mitchell Johnson who took 37 wickets at 14 apiece during the last Ashes and Josh HazlewoodI know people talk about Johnson but I think Hazlewood might be a leading wickettaker here I love Starc always have for years Hed be my first pick Thomson made his name during Australias 41 Ashes series win in 197475 when he formed a celebrated fastbowling partnership with Dennis LilleeIn five matches that series he missed the last through injury Thomson took 33 wickets at under 18 apiece bowling at a ferocious pace that has rarely if ever been exceeded But just a few months later Australia faced greater resistance in England before winning a fourmatch series shorter than normal because of the inaugural 1975 World Cup 10Asked if fast bowlers caused longterm psychological damage to opposition batsmen Thomson said I dont think it is psychological We Australia havent won here for 14 years so weve got a bit of scar tissue if you want to call it that Playing here is hard work It was the damndest thing the team we flogged in Australia then we came here and it was really uphill trying to win a match There has been plenty of talk in the buildup to the Ashes about the amount of sledging or verbal abuse of opposition players that is likely to place given the acrimonious exchanges between the two sides in 201314 Revved up Australia have long been considered past masters at sledging starting from Thomsons heyday in the 1970s but the 64yearold was adamant it was a later generation of Aussies who took the practice to its height I think it developed more in the 90s with Warnie Shane Warne Ian Healy and all those guys said Thomson whose prime years as a Test bowler came during the captaincy reigns of Ian and Greg Chappell We didnt say much I never said anything to anybody unless somebody said something to meAnd nobodys going to say anything to myself bowling 100mph said Thomson whose 51 Tests yielded exactly 200 wickets at an average of 28 apiece You are not going to say to Viv Richards you cant bat you are not going to say to me you cant bowl fast If you do you are going to get a show youre better off zipping it Thomson subsequently told AFP In the 1990s when I was doing television commentary it revved up we used to hear it through the mics microphones Hayden and Healy all those guys it did get a bit much It was getting stupidBy contrast the time Thomson was most taken aback by comments on the field came when Colin Cowdrey summoned at the age of 41 from the depths of an English winter to reinforce a battered and bruised top order first spoke to him during the 197475 Perth Test He just said Mr Thomson Colin Cowdrey Ive been dying to meet you I was just shocked said Thomson But I could see that he could play He was a fantastic player