‘He’s earned the right’: David Warner’s looming Ashes Test replacement Marcus Harris speaks out

Marcus Harris is the man most likely to replace David Warner should he be dropped ahead of the Ashes. He shared his thoughts on the champion opener’s plight with DANIEL CHERNY.

David Warner (L) and Marcus Harris prepare to walk out to bat during the last Ashes tour of England, in 2019. Picture: Paul Ellis/AFP

Marcus Harris, the man most likely to replace David Warner should he be dropped ahead of the Ashes, says the veteran has earnt the right to retire on his own terms.

Australia’s selectors have refused to guarantee Warner’s position in the XI for the first Test in Birmingham, with the opener effectively playing for his career in the World Test Championship final against India at The Oval in early June.

Harris and Matthew Renshaw have both been selected in Australia’s squad for the WTC final and first two Ashes Tests. Harris is in the box seat to replace fellow left-hander Warner should the national panel of George Bailey, Tony Dodemaide and coach Andrew McDonald lose faith in the 36-year-old either before or during the series against England.

Warner’s poor record in the last Ashes series – he averaged 9.50 after being tormented by Stuart Broad – combined with a modest couple of years in Test cricket has left him vulnerable.

David Warner has had a torrid time in recent Ashes series and is on the brink of being dropped from the Test side. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Harris has not played a Test since being squeezed out of the XI during the 2021-22 Ashes, after Usman Khawaja posted twin tons at Sydney when Travis Head missed through illness.

But the adopted Victorian, who averages just 25.29 through 14 Tests, has remained on the radar, serving as Warner and Khawaja’s understudy through the home summer.

Tuning up for his Test commitments with a stint at Gloucestershire, Harris said he was roughly aware of where he sits in the pecking order.

“I sort of know where I stand. They haven’t really said anything about the Ashes but I obviously know that I’m in the mix,” Harris told CODE Sports.

Marcus Harris played four Tests in the last Ashes series before being dropped. Picture: David Gray/AFP

The opener, who himself averaged below 10 against England four years ago, said he had seen some of the commentary around Warner’s position in the side and ultimately deferred to the former vice-captain, who has 25 Test centuries to his name.

“I do see bits and pieces of it. To be honest, I’m probably not going to be playing until Davey either isn’t playing or decides not to be playing,” Harris said.

“But my opinion with Dave is that I think he’s one of, if not the, greatest openers that Australia’s ever had. I think he’s sort of earned the right to go out the way he wants to go out. So whether or not that’s during the Ashes or whether it’s in a home summer, I think he’s earnt the right to do that. But I’ll be doing my utmost best to make runs in County cricket and put my name up there. If I have to wait a little bit longer, so be it.”

David Warner has earned the right to end his Test career on his own terms, says Marcus Harris. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

Bailey last month said that Warner was a likely starter for the clash with India but that Ashes was a different case.

“The way we’re sort of looking at that is it’s the culmination of what’s been a pretty consistent two years for a bunch of guys,” Bailey said.

“Fundamentally it’s been a pretty similar team for a long period of time. So we’re confident that’s a team and that’s a make-up that can have success.

“(However, the Ashes is) different opposition, different surface. We’ll work through that.”

Originally published as ‘He’s earned the right’: David Warner’s looming Ashes Test replacement Marcus Harris speaks out