Marcus Harris insists Tim Paine remains a popular member of the Test team and believes he deserves to play in the Ashes on merit.
Speaking on Wednesday from quarantine on the Gold Coast, the opener said Paine – who resigned as skipper last Friday – can “absolutely” be a key player without the captaincy.
“He’s done a really good job in the last few years under tough circumstances,” Harris said of the 36-year-old wicketkeeper.
“I think you can probably still argue that he’s the best gloveman in the country and he still played a few really important innings last summer against India.
“I know he’s got the support of all the players. All that other stuff is up to people above me.”
While Paine is playing a Second XI game for Tasmania this week and hasn’t addressed the Test squad as a whole, his teammates have made sure to reach out.
“I think everyone has spoken to him personally,” Harris said.
“I sent him a message the other day and I spoke to him a little bit.
“Obviously Painey is a very popular member of the group and he was the skipper as well. We’re looking forward to him getting up here in the next week or so and getting on with cricket.
“When you have things going on, sometimes the best thing to do is be out in the middle and playing cricket, taking your mind off things.”
Harris said he and other members of the Test team learned of Paine’s decision to step down as captain about 30 minutes before his scandal became public.
“It was a shock, but Tim’s always been a great leader around the group,” he added.
“He’s always been really good to me and my family, so our hearts went out for Tim and Bonnie [Paine’s wife] and the kids and his family.
“CA are going to work out who leads now, but knowing Painey and knowing his character, he’s a pretty strong and resilient bloke, so if anyone can get through it I’m backing Painey.”
Meanwhile, Harris is confident of grasping his latest opportunity for Australia.
A prolific run-scorer for Victoria, Harris hasn’t quite translated his domestic form to the international stage with an average of 23.77 after 10 Tests.
He struggled on the 2019 Ashes tour as England’s pacemen bowled around the wicket but the left-hander feels equipped to succeed on home soil.
“It was a tough first Test series over in England for myself. It wasn’t an easy series for anyone to open that summer, but obviously I’ve had plenty of time since then to try to work on a few things,” Harris reflected.
“I had the opportunity to go and play in England [for Leicester] again this year, so that was really beneficial – I really enjoyed that.
“It’s been a ploy that a lot of teams have employed against me now, to come around the wicket, and I feel like I’ve worked really hard on the technical side of my game and tactically to try to combat that.
“The proof will be in the pudding come December 8th but it feels like I’ve worked really hard, it’s going well.”
And he expects the likes of Stuart Broad and James Anderson will need to tweak their strategies on the bouncy Aussie pitches.
“I think probably in England the length they can bowl is a bit different to Australia,” Harris said.
“They can probably bowl a little bit shorter and still hit the top of the stumps in England, which obviously brings in LBWs and bowleds and all sorts of stuff.
“That’s what the challenge was over there and the Duke ball that summer was moving around a lot. They’re going to have to bowl a different length in Australia and the wickets are probably more batter-friendly in Australia.
“It can be sometimes, I wouldn’t say easier, but better to line them up, especially as a left-hander around the wicket.
“It’s still going to be a challenge for us because at the Gabba the ball moves a fair bit and bounces a lot, but I think they’re going to have to bowl a bit fuller.”
Harris will reunite with David Warner atop the order and can sense a strong combination building with the veteran.
“We had a really good centre-wicket [training session] yesterday out at Metricon. That was good against all the boys, which was a good challenge,” he said.
“We just spoke about what he [Warner] was thinking about doing and some tactical stuff. Davey is a great player, so any advice I can take from him I well and truly will.
“Davey brings a lot of energy to the crease and to the partnership and for a long period of time he’s dominated world cricket, so he takes a lot of pressure off. You don’t feel any pressure to score.
“I know we had a tough series over in England, but in the second innings against India [at the Gabba last summer] I think we put on 80 or 90 which is really good.”
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
I was arrested for saying the truth about the Education Department. The largest politburo in the Freeworld
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Well, what do you expect? We're about the only country that celebrates our national birthday on the wrong day.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Ok rephrase Paine hasn't picked up any cricket ball for 9 months . It's not good . As ponting said the media is going to stay on Paine and sexting for all five matches Paine will then retire . I don't see any upside to playing the 37 year old . Carey and inglis have good form with bat last 12 months but more important they need to get their chance now before subcontinent tours . I feel like bailey is very one eyed coming out with statements on Harris and Paine long before the final warm up matches . For me Carey should get the start and maddinson has had very solid middle order form in the last few months compared to head and now khawaja has waived last innings but he did make alot of runs before that . We need to pick guys who have had the last few months playing cricket at top international level or shield . Timmy's had one seconds match and is only really after a summer swan song after the fiasco has come out .
Paul
Roar Guru
" Paine hasn’t picked up a red ball for 9 months outside of a seconds game ." Neither has Warner, Smith, Hazlewood, Cummins or Starc. In fact, Paine has played that seconds game and they haven't even played that. He ended up with a better average than Cam Green after the India series and no one is questioning his glovework; in fact, plenty of good judges are coming out saying he's still got it as a keeper.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Was referring to Harris on field and Paine off field and onfield (or lack there off to be specific . Paine hasn’t picked up a red ball for 9 months outside of a seconds game . In practise he needs some warm up matches . Carey and Inglis have played a lot of cricket last few months . There is literally no upside to playing Paine going forward . It’s seems likes it’s to placate him for a swansong on home soil and that’s not good enough . It will just distract the side going forward this summer and prevent Carey and inglis getting experience and being galvanised in a side going to tour subcontinent next year
Paul
Roar Guru
What off field issues does Harris have that would stop him from playing? What issues do you have with Paines Test form, which in the past two Test series, have been the best of his career?
Pierro
Roar Rookie
It's the most ambiguous pick in the side supporting the other most ambiguous pick in the side . Paine and Harris both shouldn't play on issues off field and on field form or lack of it
JamesH
Roar Guru
That's not really how he operates at first class level so there's no reason to think he can't get that out of his game at test level too. His temperament has improved dramatically over the last few years. The question is whether or not his technique can hold up against bowlers with the skill to ask questions of it, as Broad did in 2019. Given the hard yards he's put in, I reckon he probably deserves the opportunity to show that it can.
Micko
Roar Rookie
Kind of sums up Australian batting (outside Smith, Marnus, and Warner @ home) for a number of years now: hard work done just for a brain fade loose shot to get out after a decent start, eg: Harris, Head, S. Marsh, Khawaja etc. All frustrate while working hard and compiling decent looking 20-60 range scores, when we need them to more regularly crack on and get 120-160 range scores!
Handy
Roar Rookie
I’m not touching the Mrs Warner issue, I think that one speaks for itself, but the obviously inappropriate commentary from Harris fascinates me. Why? Maybe yet another junior member of the team being expected to do the “dirty work” for the Elite Crew? It’s not like they don’t have form. Just ask Cameron Bancroft ….
Jeff
Roar Rookie
wwos.nine.com.au/cricket/candice-warner-concerned-by-cricket-australia-handling-of-tim-paine-saga/7db1fcb4-ca21-462b-a7ce-46ea418fa58a
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Paine is well liked like Mitch Marsh that seems to be the selection criteria. I think Paine represents a problem for England concentration wise, if he is out there. Its going to be a hard time for them to avoid sniggering and thinking about a smart sledge. I would get Paine to play to this if they sledge him , then he should go along with it though not like when Marsh said to Botham hows your wife and my kids, Botham said wifes fine but kids are re******. That just showed how dumb Botham was. If they say something like did you rest your hands during the lunch break, he should say no I was quite busy on the phone, Before you know it they will have lost the plot of trying to bowl well and thinking how to stir Paine. Then he can stir them up saying something if thats all you can think about, I can give you the phone number to my new phone sex business. T
Redcap
Roar Guru
We might never know, Dave. I'm not eager to find out.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Was the offending object out of focus?
Chanon
Roar Rookie
What did she say Jeff
The Late News
Roar Rookie
We all are actually. "We all have wings, but some of us don't know why". Even INXS knew that!
Chanon
Roar Rookie
But at the same time where is the others banging down the door? Yea he’s Langers little bro but if he knuckles down & hits some big runs all past foibles will be forgotten! Let’s bring on the Ashes stand as one & destroy the Poms :boxing:
The Late News
Roar Rookie
I would not know that!
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Apparently Harris isn’t the only one passing comment on Paine being in the team. David Warner’s wife has had something to say also…
U
Roar Rookie
20 tests from this mediocre batsman and Langer’s son Bancroft. Not a century between them. What a waste.