Australia head coach Justin Langer has backed the struggling opening batsman Marcus Harris to come good in the traditional Boxing Day Test starting on December 26 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, following the left-handed batsman’s struggles in the Test format for a long time. Harris has failed to reach the 50-run mark for over 14 Test innings across 8 Tests and is being seen as a weak link in the Australian batting line-up.
Harris has notched up scores of 3, 9 not out, 3 and 23 in the four innings so far in the Ashes 2021-22 series in which Australia are ahead by a margin of 2-0, having recorded big victories in the first two Test matches. While the home team won the first Test at the Gabba in Brisbane by 9 wickets, they were ruthless in the second Test which was a day-night affair at Adelaide Oval, winning by 275 runs.
The pressure is firmly piling up on the left-handed batsman Harris for whom the Melbourne Cricket Ground will be his home venue for the Ashes Test in which Australia will look to seal the series. While Harris has struggled to notch up big scores, his opening partner and senior batsman David Warner has two scores in 90s.
Australia head coach Langer informed the media that Harris will be a part of the Australian playing XI for the Boxing Day Test.
“He’ll play in the Test, no worries about that. This is his home ground. He’s played a lot at the MCG. He hasn’t made the runs he’d like to so far, but he dominates domestic cricket. So he knows that he knows how to play,”
Langer said.
The former Australia opening batsman Langer continued to support Harris as he added,
“He’s a fantastic bloke around the squad … And we know he’s a very good player. For him and for us we are hoping he plays well and gets a good partnership with Davey Warner in this Boxing Day Test match.”
It is a well-known fact that Langer shares a strong bond with Harris since he has known the incumbent Australian opener during his teenage days when he came through the West Australia ranks. Langer said that it was important for players to be given complete backing in order for them to come good.
“That’s absolutely one of the most important things in life, knowing people have got your back. My experience, when Steve Waugh, Ricky Ponting, Mark Taylor or Allan Border said ‘you’re in the team’, you feel like you feel like Superman. You feel like you’re important to the team and Marcus Harris is important to the team,”
said.