The Ashes 2013-14: Ryan Harris will wait until after tour for surgery

Ryan Harris elected not to have an operation on his knee in the middle of the Ashes campaign (Getty Images)

Australia fast bowler Ryan Harris needs surgery on his troublesome knee but the Ashes hero will delay the operation to be a part of the team's tour of South Africa next month.

The injury-prone 34-year-old considered having surgery during the 5-0 Ashes victory over England but it would have ruled him out of last two Test matches.

But he played through the pain and took eight wickets in the final Test at Sydney to secure the whitewash. He was named man of the match.

"There's bits of bone floating around and we were thinking about doing it then and there and missing the rest of the series," he said. "But I wanted to play five games. I wanted to be a part of it for the whole thing. My knee is no different now than it was a month ago or six weeks ago," he added. "Unless something really bad goes wrong, which I don't think it will, after Africa we'll get back and we've got enough time off to get it cleaned up and go from there."

Australia will play three Tests in South Africa starting in Centurion on 12 February.

PA