Test future doubt after Harris snub
Marcus Harris was so determined to revive his Test career that he consulted former mentor Justin Langer about how to balance fatherhood with pouring everything into winning his place back.
On the eve of the Sydney Test, he seemed in decent shape to realise his dream after a timely hundred against Pakistan in a tour match and being heavily endorsed by none other than David Warner to be his post-retirement replacement.
But the 31-year-old Victorian’s career is now at a crossroads after he was brutally overlooked for the Test series against the West Indies, not only as Warner’s replacement but as the back-up batter. It’s a bitter pill to swallow. It is understood Harris was ranked above Matthew Renshaw and Cameron Bancroft in the field of specialist openers but selectors have decided to pick a non-specialist and Steve Smith is firming as the man poised to fill Warner’s shoes at the top of the order.
Renshaw has also leapfrogged Harris as the fresh reserve because he has greater flexibility to bat anywhere in the order should a concussion substitute be required.
Harris became a first-time dad late last year and was leaving no stone unturned in his all-encompassing bid to earn a new life in the Test team.
However, the brutal reality is this could be the end of the line for Harris.
While his ability to score quickly had him well placed to be a replacement for Warner, there is a school of thought that Renshaw might be the more like-for-like substitute for Australia’s other ageing opener, Usman Khawaja, who shapes as the next man to retire.
But his slide over the past 12 months shows how life is for batters on the Test fringes.
Harris was only dropped because Khawaja made twin Test centuries at the SCG when Travis Head was ruled out with Covid.
All Harris can do now is return to the Sheffield Shield and build an irresistible case to be a standout choice when Khawaja retires.
He will need to draw on all Langer’s trademark determination and self-belief to keep up the fight.