Former Australian Test cricket captain Mark Taylor says he hopes Marcus Harris is handed “one more go at least” at opening the batting alongside David Warner.
While the Australians are on the verge of Ashes glory leading England 2-0, Harris’ return to the Test side hasn’t gone to plan.
Following scores of 3 and 9 not out at the Gabba, Harris was again dismissed for 3 during the second Test, before managing 23 in Australia’s second innings this week.
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The 29-year-old’s batting average has dropped down to 22.19 from 23 innings across 12 matches.
Asked whether Australia should look at other options and if it there was an opportunity for someone like veteran Usman Khawaja to make a return, Taylor said it was crucial for Harris to continue learning from Warner.
“I would still be playing Harris in the next Test match, I would give him one more go at least, particularly now that Australia is 2-0 up,” he told Wide World of Sports.
“I think you really want to try and bring a younger player on.
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“I think if you go back to Usman Khawaja at this stage – and he might play well, but then you’ve two 35-year-olds opening the batting for Australia.
“What you really want is a younger guy opening with batting with a senior David Warner.
“I would certainly be giving Marcus Harris one more go and hopefully on his home Test match, he comes up good on Boxing Day.
“He certainly hasn’t had a lot of luck this series, he got out to two very fine catches and yet other players were some beneficiaries of some poor fielding.”
Taylor added that despite the emergence of young guns Bryce Street and Henry Hunt, it was still too early to look at another option.
“You’ve got to make sure you’ve got someone you think is going to be a better option and at the moment it’s probably Khawaja, although he hasn’t been opening much in Shield cricket,” he added.
“The other two – Bryce Street and Henry Hunt – they may well be good players but they haven’t knocked the door down or demanded selection at this stage.
“You’ve got to make sure you’ve got someone who you think can do a better job, but I’m not sure that is the case at the moment.
“I would give Marcus Harris another game.”
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