Australia appears to be in trouble against a promising Indian side touring this summer. That we all know.
Throughout the opening rounds of Sheffield Shield games our dismal batting line up has resulted in many players being able to present their case for a spot in the first test in Adelaide.
Of the players who represented the Aussies in the UAE, only Shaun Marsh has managed to solidify a position and revert to his form last summer with two hundreds for Western Australia. However, the dominant Victorian Shield line up has presented the name Marcus Harris as a possibility to shape our top order against India.
Harris has been a consistent performer at Shield level. For all of the calls from players of yesteryear’s golden age for current batsmen to dominate at state level and boost their averages to ensure selection, an underwhelming amount of bats have actually managed this.
Gone is the era of the likes of Mike Hussey plying his trade for a decade and amassing a record amount of Shield runs alongside the unlucky sorts such as Brad Hodge, Harris has done this upon moving to Victoria.
His career average, including both his time at Western Australia and Victoria, is disappointingly only just over 35, yet this doesn’t take into account his circumstances – Harris debuted at age 18 and made 157 in just his third match, yet struggled with problems of inconsistency that are common for blistering opening batsmen.
Yet upon his relocation, Harris has averaged over 40 in his first two seasons, and is currently averaging a tick under 88 so far in this season.
Although shunned from Western Australia by Langer from being “mediocre” with only “flashes of brilliance”, Harris has developed his game to provide a mature sense of calm that capitalises more on his brilliance. His 250* earlier in the season was sublime, and his usual aggressive game has catered for a smarter approach that is not unlike David Warner’s rise to success.
In a Test team that is struggling greatly with maintaining scoring tempo and positive approaches when facing the world’s best bowlers, Harris may be hitting his peak.
If selected, he possesses a similar game to Warner in that he can hammer opening bowlers from an early stage and lay the foundations for a high scoring innings. This is something Australia is desperately lacking, and with Harris the opening partnership could be steady yet dynamic in covering for the loss of Warner.
Considering that certain sections of the Australian cricketing public are desperate for the bans of Warner and Smith to be rescinded so that they can save the test team, wouldn’t it be beneficial for Harris to be selected and reflect an aggressive approach to opening the batting that Warner made his own?
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It may not be to the same standard as Warner’s impressive career thus far, yet it may be a perfect time to introduce him to the national stage and develop his skills so that he has the chance to flourish and become Australia’s next great opening batsman?
We also know that Harris is a big-game performer. In the 2014-15 Sheffield Shield Final he played a lone hand for the losing Warriors in making 81 and 158 against a dominant Victorian outfit that he would soon join.
Marcus Harris of Victoria bats (AAP Image/Hamish Blair)
On the biggest stage that he has played in during his first-class career, Harris provided an adept ability to make runs in a positive manner against the best bowling attacks presented to him. This proves that his aggressive style doesn’t shy away when pressure is applied, meaning that Harris may be a welcome addition to the Australian test team.
The only part that could detract from Harris’ selection is his previous relationship with Langer while at Western Australia. Frustrated by his opening batsman’s youthful inconsistency, Langer bode him farewell with a public parting shot that hinted at a lack of credit or respect for Harris.
However, the Victorian opener has affirmed that he still remains in contact with Langer and that an exchange with Langer as a part of the national team wouldn’t be awkward, so maybe Harris could be in the box seat for an inclusion in the test side come the first test.
If Australia want to introduce positive batsmen who have the talent to shape our test team’s identity without Smith and Warner, Harris may be the perfect platform to set to encourage aggressive cricket from the top of the order.
If you want to go even further, maybe including more players who are flourishing under Andrew McDonald’s tutelage at Victoria while they have become a powerhouse in all forms of state cricket may be a smart way to go to build the quality of our test team. But that’s another conversation…
Noah Barling
Roar Pro
Ill be honest, I think he is great, if not one of the best, especially to have such averages in England and the SC, but I thought everyone would abuse me like normal
Tom
Guest
Lol He’ll just be another opener in Baggy green limbo when JL brings Bancroft straight back in to the side
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
I think to get all the first class stats breakdowns at the level you can for international stats on cricinfo you have to go to sites that require paid subscriptions to access unfortunately. I do think that M. Hussey's dominance of County Cricket had a big part to do with his selection in the test team though. He played his first test in the Australian summer directly preceding an Ashes tour of England. Even though he played a number of tests in Australia, South Africa and Bangladesh before that Ashes, we know that thoughts of the Ashes tour to England are always in the forefronts of selectors minds in the summer prior to that selection. Always trying to work out who could do well over there. And I think that may have played a big part in Hussey's selection at the time.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
I've read the article with the selection now, so it's a moot point. Harris in, Renshaw out. What makes you think I'm a big Mitch Marsh fan? I think you are thinking of Don. I don't believe Mitch Marsh should be in the team. I have made it clear that I couldn't see the selectors dropping him at this point, but that's different to me thinking he should be selected. The selectors actually have a pretty tough task at the moment because there are a bunch of players who've done enough to be potentially considered, but other than Shaun Marsh, really none of the players in the frame for test selection have piled up the runs to really make an iron clad case for selection. Renshaw really did need to make a few more runs to earn himself that spot. But he's young enough to still have plenty of chances ahead.
maverick
Roar Rookie
So an average of 53 and 45 hundreds doesn't count? I don't know North,White or Marsh's numbers were anywhere near that.
john goerge
Guest
Bushy, what is the source of these reports? I suppose i could live with the 6 bats you mention (expect for M Marsh, should be removed until he plays more shield cricket, not hides in the shadow of his bro). M Mitch often gets picked with S Marsh doing well, its like the selectors think they need to pick them as a package deal. Harris to score 50 on debut M Marsh out for 7 in 1st test AUS 4/67 at lunch on day 1 of first test
jameswm
Roar Guru
Agreed. I wouldn't pick either.
Ben
Roar Rookie
Head score since his return from UAE: 1,8,6 against SA 16,87,6 in the shield Handscomb 27,48,123,2,4,23 Both shouldn’t be picked
mrrexdog
Roar Guru
What was his average in county cricket?
The Bush
Roar Guru
It's only reports. In fact, having re-read what I did read, it's not even clear if the big four are all being selected, but surely they will be. Will be interesting to see if there's any truth to this potential line up.
Matt H
Roar Guru
If that’s true then Handscomb has come from the clouds with only average form to recommend him. It would be selection Pajic to drop head after only two tests in Asia where he scored an 87 to help save a match, to be replaced by a guy who is currently traveling the same? Having said all that I quite like Handscomb and hope he does well.
Ben
Roar Rookie
He batted well at 3 last shield season.
The Bush
Roar Guru
There are reports that the thirteen man squad will be this: Khawaja, Harris, Head, Handscombe, M Marsh, S Marsh, Finch, Paine, Tremain, Starc, Hazlewood, Lyon and Cummins. It's being reported that Head and Tremain are the back ups in the squad, so most likely line up: 1. Harris 2. Finch 3. Khawaja 4. S Marsh 5. Handscombe 6. M Marsh
Spanner
Roar Rookie
Maxwell at 4 in a test team and M Marsh in - ya dreaming !!
Rellum
Roar Guru
Harris has put in two ok Shield seasons and this one has been very good so far. No one was talking about him seriously last year but a timely 250 has him suddenly become this amazing player who has been on fire and dominated the Shield for three years. Harris is in the frame for a test spot because his competition is bog average and nit scoring. If he gets picked I hope he dominates india
Ben
Roar Rookie
Maxwell and Harris should be picked ahead of finch and head. My XI Harris Burns/Renshaw Khawaja Maxwell S marsh M marsh Paine Bowlers
The Bush
Roar Guru
I was thinking the same thing about Maxwell last night. The comment was made, that runs are runs, and right now Maxwell is hitting some runs. But there is still no chance that he'll be considered for the test side.
The Bush
Roar Guru
Cook averaged 45 at test level and over 47 at FC level. He wasn't just a "good opener", he was a great opener.
The Bush
Roar Guru
Yeah it was sort of a rhetorical comment, he's certainly doing better than just about everyone else, so I couldn't fault the selectors if they picked him.
The Bush
Roar Guru
This is where you lose me sometimes Don. Just because he's from WA, suddenly he's "4 time" better than someone else, even though Cowan's career average in FC cricket was over 41 and Harris is only averaging 35. Maybe he'll turn out to be a better batsman, but it's going to take literally years for him to build a career that is as good (at his current rate of averaging in the low forties).