Harris, who has a history of injury problems, pulled up while bowling the fifth ball of his 29th over on Tuesday and limped from the ground with the team physio. -Photo by Reuters

MELBOURNE: Australian paceman Ryan Harris will be out for up to three months after surgery for an ankle stress fracture, Cricket Australia said on Wednesday.

Harris suffered the injury while bowling in the fourth Test, won by England by an innings and 157 runs to retain the Ashes.

The recovery time will rule Harris out of the World Cup, starting in India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka on February 19.

“Ryan was reviewed by a specialist in Melbourne this morning,” team doctor Trefor James said in a statement.

“The specialist confirmed that the best management for the stress fracture of his left ankle would be to undergo surgery.

“This surgery will occur today and we expect Ryan's recovery time to be three to four months.”

Harris, 31, took 11 wickets in the Ashes series at 25.54 -- the best average of any Australian bowler in the series.

Harris, who has a history of injury problems, pulled up while bowling the fifth ball of his 29th over on Tuesday and limped from the ground with the team physio.

Australia will have to find a bowling replacement for Harris in next week's fifth Ashes Test in Sydney.