Victorian opener Marcus Harris ready to plant early Ashes flag as season starts against NSW

Will Pucovski’s return to training has been revealed as Victorian teammate Marcus Harris moves to stake his claim for a spot in the first Ashes Test.

Will Pucovski will be Ashes ready for the opening Test at the Gabba even with one fewer match in preparation than his Victorian teammate Marcus Harris, who is “ready to go” now.

Victorian captain Peter Handscomb revealed Pucovski has been back at training, if only doing fitness work, since a 10th concussion forced him to take a break and miss his team’s opening Sheffield Shield clash against NSW starting on Wednesday at Drummoyne Oval in Sydney.

Pucovski is on track to return in an MCG rematch starting November 5, giving Harris, who Test captain Tim Paine said was “next in line” to open should Pucovski not be available, one extra chance to put his nose in front.

Harris was a run machine during a winter stint playing county cricket in England, scoring three consecutive centuries for Leicestershire, including one innings of 185.

He’s had to wait an extra six weeks to start his Australian domestic season and watched on as Usman Khawaja made 174 for Queensland to throw his name back into the Ashes conversation.

But Handscomb said Harris, who opened with David Warner in the fourth Test against India last summer, was well placed to seize his next chance should Pucovski not be available.

“He’s played more red-ball games than anyone else that could be in the Test squad. With or without these games he’s ready to go,” Handscomb said on Tuesday.

“He made four hundreds in the end (in England) averaging heaps. He’s batting beautifully.

Will Pucovski should be ready to add to his one Test when the Ashes starts. Picture: David Gray / AFP

“These next two games are a good chance to spend some time in the middle which he hasn’t done for six weeks. He might get a couple of good balls, but that’s not going to stop him making a lot of runs.

“He looks in a great place, he knows what he’s doing, he’s preparing in a nice manner and he just looks calm and present when he’s out in the middle.

“They (Harris and Pucovski) were the two who were the openers last summer. If they go with Harry, or if they go with Puck, they are both ready.”

Pucovski hasn’t played a game since injuring his shoulder in his Test debut against India in January, an injury that required surgery.

Despite this latest concussion setback, Handscomb is confident Pucovski will hit the ground running

“He’s ready to go. As soon as he feels he’s ready to go, he’ll be fine,” he said.

“He’s not one who needs to hit a lot of balls to be feeling it back in the middle and timing it well. He has such a natural eye that a couple of hits and he’ll be ready to go.

“If he is available for the Shield game, even on minimal hits, he’ll be fine. I’m not worried about him for our Shield game or the Ashes if he does get a crack.”

Handscomb said it was just good to end a “frustrating” six weeks of delays to get back on the park in the first of back-to-back Shield games against NSW.

“It’s the second year in a row we have had to delay our start to the season, watching other people play,” he said.

“We are six weeks after the scheduled first game, but we are excited to get back out there.”

Originally published as Victorian opener Marcus Harris ready to plant early Ashes flag as season starts against NSW