Harris likely to get the nod
MARCUS Harris is set to make his Test debut at Adelaide Oval tomorrow, barring a last-minute rethink from Australia’s selectors.
Harris has been locked in a selection showdown with Peter Handscomb since the 14-man squad was named, with the pair battling over the final spot in Australia’s XI that will confront India in the fourTest series opener.
Harris, the only specialist firstclass opener in the squad who sealed his call-up with an unbeaten 250 at the MCG, has always been the frontrunner. That remains the case despite Handscomb impressing in tough conditions at the Gabba last week.
Harris shared a net with Aaron Finch on Monday, having opened with his state teammate in the Big Bash League but not the Sheffield Shield, then worked on his bat-pad catching technique during yesterday’s training session that lasted more than three hours.
The least experienced player in the side is generally asked to field under the lid. Dumped batsman Marnus Labuschagne performed the duty against Pakistan. The stage is set for Harris, who left Justin Langer’s mentorship at Western Australia and joined Victoria in 2016, to become the nation’s 456th male Test cricketer.
Selecting the left-hander would allow Usman Khawaja, now the first batsman picked in a weakened order missing Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft, to return to his position at first drop.
Langer, who sent Harris a message welcoming him to the “brotherhood” after his selection in the Test squad, indicated that the 26-year-old “can’t be much closer [to a baggy green] than he is now”.
Handscomb could potentially still earn a recall if selectors decide to pick six batsmen and leave Mitch Marsh out of the team.
Mike Hussey hopes the chosen XI are given a proper chance to prove they belong this summer, urging selectors to pick and stick.
“You just need to be patient with good players,” Hussey said.
“Look at someone like Travis Head. He showed some good signs in the UAE and it’d be a real blow to his confidence and mindset if they just punted him straight away.”