MELBOURNE: Just as well, Marcus Harris has a friend in high places — Australia cricket coach Justin Langer.

Harris, the beleaguered Australian Test opener, has 14 consecutive dismissals without reaching a half-century. His Test average of 22.19 is the lowest of all regular Australian openers in 128 years.

In four innings against England in this Ashes series, the 29-year-old Harris has scored just 38 runs and is the one specialist batter in the Australia team who did not thrive as the hosts secured big wins in the first two Tests in Brisbane and Adelaide. His Test total against England is even worse, averaging just 10.66 with the bat.

That apparently isn’t enough for Langer to consider replacing Harris as opener with David Warner for the Boxing Day Test beginning from Sunday at the Melbourne Cricket Ground despite the fact that Usman Khawaja, who many want to see open in Harris place, has two centuries in the five Tests he has appeared as an opener, totaling 484 runs at an average of 96.8.

“He’ll play in the test, no worries about that,” Langer told reporters. “This is his home ground, he’s played a lot at the MCG. He hasn’t made the runs he’d liked to at the moment but ... he knows how to play.

“He hasn’t made the runs he’d like to so far, but he dominates domestic cricket. For him, for us, we’re hoping he plays well and gets a good partnership with Davy Warner in this Boxing Day Test match.”

Langer and Harris are close friends from their days together in Western Australia state.

“That’s absolutely one of the most important things in life, knowing people have got your back,” Langer said.

Langer, an opener who played 105 Tests for Australia, endured similar periods where his position was in question and said it was important to support players.

“We like to back our players in, where we can,” he added. “It’s a tough gig, opening in test cricket, but we’re really confident Marcus has got what it takes to be a successful Australian opening batsman.”

Warner has had multiple opening partners during his 10-year Test career and finding a long-term partner for him has been a problem since Chris Rogers’ retirement after the 2015 Ashes.

“My experience, when Steve Waugh, Ricky Ponting, Mark Taylor or Allan Border said ‘you’re in the team’, you feel like Superman,” said Langer.

“You feel like you’re important to the team and Marcus Harris is important to the team.”

With Harris a confirmed starter, Australia’s only question mark is over their bowling unit.

Pat Cummins and fellow fast bowler Josh Hazle­wood will return to the squad later on Thursday after missing the second Test in Adelaide, which Australia won by 275 runs.

Cummins has completed health protocols after being deemed a close contact of a Covid-19 case and is sure to resume the captaincy but Hazlewood will need to prove he has recovered from a side strain sustained in the series opener.

Michael Neser and Jhye Richardson replaced the duo in Adelaide, while uncapped paceman Scott Boland was brought into the squad as cover on Tuesday, and Langer said he was undecided on the make-up of the bowling attack for Melbourne.

“Both Michael and Jhye did a great job in the last Test match,” he added. “We’ve got five Test matches in a row, we’ll just manage our bowlers as best we can and we’ll put our fittest and our most ready to perform out on the park in Melbourne.”

There were also concerns over Mitchell Starc after he was injured while batting in Adelaide, but Langer thought the left-arm quick would be ready to go on Sunday.

“I’d be very surprised if he didn’t get up for the Boxing Day test. He should be fine, he’s tough. If he’s not right, we’ll look at it, but at this stage there’s no indication he won’t be available,” said Langer.

Published in Dawn, December 24th, 2021