Marcus Harris tips epic battle for Ashes batting berths as Australia searches for its prime top-order mix in England

Marcus Harris envisages a Hunger Games-style fight for Ashes batting berths in England as Australia searches for its prime top-order mix.

Australian opener Marcus Harris bats during day three of the third Test against India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Pic by Michael Dodge/Getty Images.

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Marcus Harris envisages a Hunger Games-style fight for Ashes batting berths in England as Australia searches for its prime top-order mix.

There is support within the top levels of Australia’s cricket hierarchy for a shock installation of David Warner at No.3 against England, allowing Usman Khawaja to open with Harris or Joe Burns.

Either way, Victorian Harris expects an unforgiving fight to retain his opening slot through a series of tour matches, culminating in an Australia v Australia A showdown at Southampton from July 23-26. The first Test starts on August 1 in Birmingham.

Marcus Harris during the Third Test against India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Picture: Michael Dodge/Getty Images

“There will be added pressure, and of course you want to do well, but if you want to play for your country, that is the sort of scrutiny and pressure you have to play under,” Harris told The Advertiser.

“I think you will find the blokes that do well with the pressure on that Australia A tour will hold them in good stead for an Ashes tour.”

Khawaja averages 96 with two tons over five Tests opening and 38 — enhanced by a second-innings 101 against Sri Lanka — at No.3.

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Former skipper Steve Smith will make a dramatic Ashes return from suspension at No.4, while Durham skipper Cameron Bancroft eyes redemption.

Kurtis Patterson and Burns made tons against Sri Lanka that won’t guarantee Ashes retention but South Australian Travis Head is safe in the middle order. Peter Handscomb, Shaun Marsh and Glenn Maxwell will sweat on squad selection. “Hopefully I can do what I need to do but there will be a few blokes vying for not many spots,” said Harris, man of the match with 141 in Victoria’s Sheffield Shield final win against NSW. “I know with how good Davey’s record is, what he has done, who he is, there will be a bit of a fight out for that spot opening.”

Marcus Harris with his best player award after Victoria claimed this season’s Sheffield Shield against New South Wales at Junction Oval last month. Picture: Michael Dodge/Getty Images)

Harris enjoyed a solid debut Test series against India’s formidable attack, averaging 36.8 with two half-centuries before tapering off in Australia’s series sweep of Sri Lanka. Acclimatisation at Test level was crucial for him. “I am more aware of what will happen in a Test series,” Harris said.

“It is a very big emotional rollercoaster playing your first Test series against India, a big event in your life and it will hold me in good stead going forward I reckon.”

Harris topped the Shield run aggregate with 1188 at 69.8 while securing three domestic titles with Victoria and Melbourne Renegades.

“I feel like I will be pretty well prepared by the time England comes around for the Australia A tour,” he said.

“It will be a great challenge over there and there is normally a bit in the wickets as well so there will be plenty of work on a few little things.”

Harris, renowned as a big-game player with three Shield final centuries, believes he has the tools to square off “in different conditions” against Dukes’ ball kings James Anderson and Stuart Broad.

“You always want to get a hundred but it’s a matter of keeping positive, getting processes right,” he said. “ If you do that for long enough, you tend to find those things look after themselves.”

Originally published as Marcus Harris tips epic battle for Ashes batting berths as Australia searches for its prime top-order mix in England