Vic opener into Test debate

VICTORIAN opener Marcus Harris has entered the Test batting selection debate with his first Sheffield Shield double century.

The left-hander anchored the Victorian first innings, reaching 210 at stumps on day two of the Shield match against NSW at the MCG yesterday.

After bowling out NSW for 159 on day one, the home side was well placed at 8-356, a lead of 197.

Adding to the visitors’ problems, they lost firstchange bowler Mickey Edwards. He bowled one delivery in his 10th over in the morning session before leaving the field, and NSW confirmed he has a side strain.

That puts him in doubt for the rest of the match.

Harris had batted for 516 minutes and faced 357 balls in his ninth first-class score above 100, hitting 19 boundaries, with national chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns in attendance.

The thoughts of Australian coach Justin Langer will be interesting, given what happened when Harris defected from WA to Victoria two years ago.

Langer, then the WA coach, described Harris’ batting as mediocre with flashes of brilliance and also said his form was frustrating. But Harris was rock-solid on Thursday and yesterday.

He had a scare in the second over of the innings, when a delivery from Daniel Sams kept low and narrowly missed his off stump. Then on 94, he tried to reach his ton with a six off leg-spinner Daniel Fallins and the ball fell just wide of deep mid-wicket.

That took him to 98 and a leg glance from the next delivery brought up his century.

He brought up his double ton with a straight-hit boundary off Jason Sangha. Resuming at 3-101, Victoria crawled to 4-151 at lunch as Harris and nightwatchman Scott Boland (12) frustrated the NSW efforts for an early breakthrough.