Marcus Harris cops harsh reality check amid Steve Smith Test move for Australia
The Victorian opener was one of the favourites to replace David Warner in the Aussie Test side.
Bloody unlucky or not bloody good enough? That's the question being asked of Marcus Harris after the Victorian opener was overlooked as David Warner's replacement at the top of the Australian batting order.
While all the publicity has surrounded Cam Bancroft's omission despite stellar Sheffield Shield form – and a spot for Matt Renshaw was found in the 13-man squad for the two-Test series against the West Indies – there has been little support or sympathy for Harris. At one stage he was considered the leading candidate as the only contracted player among the main contenders and a near permanent member of the squad in recent years.
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He also had the backing of Warner, who argued Harris was an almost like-for-like replacement because he is a batsman who scores at a decent rate. "He is not too dissimilar to me – if he sees it in his areas, he goes for it and plays his shots," Warner said. "I think he’d fit well."
The selectors disagreed. Once Steve Smith put his hand up to face the new ball, the behind-the-scenes machinations went to work and Harris dropped from pre-race favourite to rank outsider.
At 31 and with a modest return from his 14 Tests (607 runs at 25.29) – on top of lukewarm Shield form - it would appear the road back for Harris is either very long or a dead end. Not that he's thinking that way.
He told The Age late last year: "I think in this day and age, you can’t write anyone off. I’d like to back myself and think I’ve got plenty of good cricket ahead of me. If given the opportunity, I can take it with both hands."
Cricket fans react to Marcus Harris Test snub
According to the majority of fans, the left-hander's time has come and gone. One supporter on X attempted to defend Harris, arguing long stints as a non-playing squad member had limited his opportunities to push his case for selection.
It was quickly met with social media chin music. "Reasonable Shield player, but that’s his peak," one armchair critic replied. Another posted: "He's had several chances and blew every single one of them. He's not up to Test cricket."
I feel greatly for Marcus Harris in all of this. Hasn’t been able to put up gaudy stats for the last year or two years because he’s been too busy mixing sports drink and running gloves as the next in line as part of Aus set up. Lost a little in the debates. @abcsport
— Ben Cameron (@BenCameron23) January 10, 2024
Harris played 9 of 11 Shield matches last season and averaged 37.5. He's played 5 of 6 this season and averaged 31.3 and the match he missed was because of the birth of his child.
He had plenty of opportunities to put up gaudy stats.— Blake (@B_Lar_Kay) January 10, 2024
He's had several chances and blew every single one of them.
He's not up to test cricket.— Chris Fitzgerald (@ChrisFitzMelb) January 10, 2024
Bancroft is also on the outside looking in and unlikely to get another shot in the near future, with the younger and more versatile Renshaw now next batting cab off the rank. Smith will open for the first time at Test level when Australia takes on the West Indies at Adelaide Oval from January 17.
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