Victoria’s Marcus Harris will make his Test debut for Australia tomorrow, after coach Justin Langer confirmed his inclusion in the XI to SEN Radio.
His inclusion in the suspension-ravaged squad initially raised eyebrows, but the 26-year-old will open the batting alongside Aaron Finch when the teams take to the field at the Adelaide Oval from 11am (AEST).
AAP quoted Langer saying he was “pretty sure Marcus Harris will make his debut, which is very exciting for him,” before lauding the debutant’s strong performances thus far in the Sheffield Shield.
“He’s scored 500 runs in Shield cricket in eight innings, he’s a terrific young player and he’s looked very good in some of the most competitive net sessions I’ve seen,” he said.
Harris’ standout performance this Shield season was easily a 250* he blasted off 403 balls against New South Wales. He’s picked up an additional three half-centuries opening the batting for a Victorian side that’s terrorised the rest of the competition so far.
That wasn’t the only interesting team news Langer dropped in the interview, with comments on the five and six spots seemingly suggesting vice captain Mitchell Marsh’s spot isn’t guaranteed.
“It’ll be either Peter Handscomb or Mitchell Marsh who’ll take the five or six position,” Langer was quoted as saying, although AAP is reporting that only one of those two will be selected, which would mean Travis Head will line up in the XI.
“We’ll have a look at that and come up with a decision,” he said.
Marsh has consistently been an extremely controversial inclusion in the Australian Test side – let alone an appointment to the vice captaincy – averaging just 26 with the bat and 42 with the ball despite being touted as Australia’s premier all-rounder.
His axing at the hands of Handscomb would prove especially interesting given the unavailability of Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft due to suspension.
Aaron Finch
Marcus Harris
Usman Khawaja
Shaun Marsh
Travis Head
Peter Handscomb/Mitch Marsh
Tim Paine
Pat Cummins
Mitchell Starc
Nathan Lyon
Josh Hazlewood
MORE TO COME
Chris Love
Roar Guru
If that did happen and I was Glenn Maxwell I would pay Tim Paine 10 grand to have himself bat above Wade. Lol
Paul Giles
Guest
Patterson only misses out on my second eleven because he is in my first eleven.
AREH
Roar Guru
For sure - Australia hardly uses their fifth bowler, particularly at home, and Head can definitely provide a handful of overs as relief if needed, which isn't much different to what M. Marsh would be doing. I like this seeing less emphasis on the fifth bowler with selection, because all that player needs to do is be capable of a few overs here and there. Even Finch could do it.
Brian
Guest
4 Bowlers suggests Ronan was right pitch will have some life in it. Also suggests they believe the 3 pace bowlers are fully fit given there is another Test in Perth next week which ordinarily Australia would be more favoured to win then Adelaide, albeit Perth is a new drop in wicket so who knows what we'll get. I think they are happy for Head to roll the arm over, anyone really as long as their not called Maxwell.
Matt H
Roar Guru
At least unlike Ballance they won't play him at 3. At 6 he can start potentially against an older ball and also can use his expertise against spin (and right handedness) to deal with Ashwin.
Matt H
Roar Guru
Well he topped the runs in last year's Sheffield Shield, then scored a ton of runs in England over the winter so ...
Matt H
Roar Guru
Paine's batting is ok but a top 6 he is not. He has scored one century in his entire first class career and it was a long, long time ago (Langer the coach has a more recent one). On top of that Paine wasn't keeping in that match. So Paine is a seven at best.
Brian
Guest
Good move. Against the Saffers attack or in England and India Handscomb probably not good enough, but at home against this Indian attack he could just score big.
Brian
Guest
Surely Head can roll the arm over for a few overs and so allow the best 6 batsman to play. With Head at 5 and Maxi at 6 they could have played 6 batsman and had a few part time overs if India bat deep.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
I suspect he will, hence Langers comments about "who will bat at 5 or 6", rather than "who will bat at 6". If it was Mitch Marsh he would have batted at 6, but being Handscomb he might be more likely to bat at 5 and Head at 6. If all they need from a 5th bowler is 5-6 overs in a day, then Head can probably provide that anyway!
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
I hope so too, but I'm not actually that hopeful that he has. Whenever I've seen him talk about his technique he's seemed to respond that he doesn't see an issue with it because it's the technique that's got him this far and he's scored plenty of runs with it. I worry he will be another Gary Ballance / Graeme Hick type, able to score lots of runs at first class level, but with technique issues that keep getting found out at the higher level which he never addresses because that technique seems to work at the lower level so he doesn't see an issue with it.
jameswm
Roar Guru
Or Handscomb 4 SMarsh 5. But you can go like this 1. Harris (left) 2. Finch (right) 3. Khawaja (left) 4. SMarsh (left) 5. Handscomb (right) 6. Head (left) 7. Paine (right) 8 right, 9 left, 10 right, 11 left
anon
Roar Pro
I'm shocked that Marsh was dropped. In the press conference yesterday Marsh was talking a confident game, dismissing critics almost like he had the whole summer ahead of him to shut them up. He was talking like he was a walk up start. Langer must have been overruled.
Kandeepan Arul
Roar Rookie
Also I tend to think that Indians' biggest weakness will be their inability to adjust to the extra bounce on Australian wickets. Siddle doesn't have the height to trouble the Indians with bounce. If Cummins is underdone Tremain with his extra height would be a better choice to replace him.
AREH
Roar Guru
I hope Handscomb now goes to 5, and Head 6. Handscomb at 6 doesn't suit for mine
boxingkoala
Roar Rookie
me too
Ben
Roar Rookie
The game is at the mcg
jameswm
Roar Guru
Nah I suspect Langer is not the sole selector, and perhaps Marsh didn't perform as well in the nest at Harris and Handscomb. Handscomb has been more consistent in the Shield. Here's hoping he has overcome technical issues.
jameswm
Roar Guru
Exactly. I wish Mitch Marsh (and Maxwell) all the best. Good luck to them both to force their way into the team by weight of runs.
JamesH
Roar Guru
I suspect that this is because they don't feel they need a fifth bowler on this deck.