Marcus Harris, who stepped aside for Usman Khawaja following an impressive performance in the Ashes 2021/22, has conveyed assurance and appreciation for being recognized for the opening position.
Cricket fans are in for a surprise as Australian opener David Warner prepares to retire from Test and ODI cricket after the upcoming third and final Test match against Pakistan in Sydney on January 3. Warner, a prolific batter, leaves a notable legacy in Australian cricket.
There’s talk of a new player filling the opening spot in the Test squad since there’s no designated backup. Marcus Harris, who hasn’t played since 2022, is a likely choice.
He stepped aside for Usman Khawaja after the Ashes 2021/22 but is now confident and grateful for the chance. Harris also mentions being inspired by Khawaja’s journey, boosting his confidence.
“It does give me the confidence they have looked at me as being the next opener in line. I’d like to think I haven’t done much wrong for that to change. I feel like my performances over a long period of time have stayed consistently at a good level. I feel like I’ve done what I’ve needed to do,” Harris said.
Even after being left out, Harris stays positive, highlighting that it wasn’t because of poor form. He compares his situation to Khawaja’s comeback, underscoring that maintaining belief and performing well in domestic cricket boost his confidence.
“You don’t lose belief because you weren’t dropped on the basis of form. The perfect case in point is probably Uzzie. You hear how in 2019 he thought he was done, probably never play again. His last two years have been the best cricket he’s played,” Harris was quoted as saying by the Sydney Herald.
Harry, we believe you’re doing great, and you’re definitely part of our future plans: Pat Cummins
Pat Cummins, addressing the uncertainty in Australia’s opening combination after Warner, had earlier voiced his trust in Marcus Harris. He emphasized Harris’s crucial role and the team’s dedication to nurturing his potential.
“I think he knew it was coming,” Cummins had said after the Sydney Test in 2022. The message to Harry is we think he is going really well. It’s really tough on him. It’s not too often someone comes in and hits two hundreds in the same game.”
“But I thought Marcus has been really good I think he’s been growing with each game he was a huge part in how we won that MCG Test with a crucial innings,” Cummins stated further.
“So he’s certainly part of the future. We’ll keep investing in him. I think he’s been going really well,” he concluded.
With the cricketing community awaiting Warner’s goodbye, attention shifts to Harris, who remains resolute in his ambition to seize the chance and make a substantial contribution to Australia’s cricketing future.
Get the latest cricket news here, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more such updates.
