Marcus Harris’ unwanted record as the worst opening batter in Ashes history

Following his latest Ashes knock at the Gabba on Thursday morning, Australian opener Marcus Harris holds an unwanted record.

Marcus Harris of Australia. Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images

It’s official — Marcus Harris is the worst opener batter in Ashes history.

The Australian opener fell for 3 on day two of the Gabba Test, becoming the first Ashes victim of England seamer Ollie Robinson.

Robinson got the Kookaburra to nip away from the left-hander, finding the outside edge which flew to Dawid Malan at third slip, who took a classy catch low to the turf.

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“It was a pretty good ball with the angle that he delivered it,” Australian great Shane Warne said on Fox Cricket. “It was one of those where it was going to be a really tight leave. Just don’t push.

“It is the one thing you can’t do in Australia and especially at The Gabba. You can’t push and fend.

“You either have a go at that and just throw the whole sink at it or let it go. You can’t do that.

“It was a nothing sort of shot from Marcus Harris. It is nothing but just a push.”

The Victorian had survived 17 deliveries at the crease, making his way back to the pavilion in the sixth over of the innings with Australia 1/10.

It continued a horror streak of low scores for Harris against England in the game’s longest format — during the 2019 series, he scored 58 runs in six innings with a high score of 19.

And following Thursday morning’s dismissal, Harris is statistically the least effective opening batter in Ashes history — of cricketers who played at least four Ashes Tests.

Although David Warner also had a horror England tour in 2019, three Ashes centuries on home soil boosts his overall average above 40.

Lowest average for an opening batter in Ashes cricket

8.71 — Marcus Harris (AUS)

10.33 — Peter McAlister (AUS)

11.66 — Trevor Bailey (ENG)

12.77 — Adam Lyth (ENG)

16.12 — Chris Tavare (ENG)

* Minimum four Ashes Tests

Ollie Robinson claims his first Ashes wicket. Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images

After Victorian teammate Will Pucovski was ruled out of the first Ashes Test with concussion symptoms, national selector George Bailey announced that Harris would open the batting at the Gabba alongside Warner.

The 29-year-old has a modest record in Test cricket — averaging less than 24 with the bat after 10 matches — but impressed during his recent county stint with Leicestershire.

He returned home and started his Sheffield Shield campaign with a century against the New South Wales Blues at Drummoyne Oval, but his other first-class scores this summer are 9, 1 and 0.

Harris’ record at the Gabba is also pretty grim — in seven first-class matches in the Queensland capital, he averages 18.83 with a high score of 62, as reported by Code Sports.

Regardless of how he performs in the second innings, Harris will almost certainly get another opportunity at Adelaide Oval next week, but with the experienced Usman Khawaja breathing down his neck, he’s running out of chances to prove his worth at international level.

Harris gives bowlers a lot of ways to get him out, always has #Ashes

— Dan-yule Brettig 🎄 (@danbrettig) December 8, 2021

So the search for a credible partner to Warner has to continue now - Harris has had lots of chances. Robinson bowled well though. #Ashes

— Kevin Yam 任建峰 (@kevinkfyam) December 8, 2021

Speaking to Fox Cricket this week, Bailey suggested Khawaja could bat anywhere in the Australian top six if required.

“We’re really excited that Uzzie is in the squad and obviously brings a great deal of versatility in the roles in which he can bat as well,” he explained.

“If Uzzie gets an opportunity we think he’ll take it with both hands. The harder the decisions, the more exciting it is in many respects.”

Khawaja averages 96.80 when opening the batting in Test cricket. The Queenslander was opening when he compiled a gritty 141 against Pakistan in 2019 — arguably the best innings of his international career.

He has scored 460 runs at an average of 65.71 in the Sheffield Shield this season, including two centuries in five matches.

Australia was 1/46 after 20 overs at the Gabba, with Warner unbeaten on 25 and No. 3 batter Marnus Labuschagne on 15 at the other end.