Ashes 2023: Marcus Harris discusses Australia’s opening spot as debate continues over David Warner’s spot

As questions remain on David Warner’s opening spot, possible replacement Marcus Harris has warned against elevating a makeshift opener in English conditions.

Marcus Harris believes replacing David Warner with a makeshift opener is fraught with danger. Picture: Paul ELLIS / AFP

Marcus Harris has cast doubt on whether a non-specialist opener would be appropriate to replace David Warner at the top of the order should Australia’s selectors lose faith in the veteran for the fourth Test.

Neither captain Pat Cummins nor coach Andrew McDonald have been willing to guarantee Warner’s place in the Aussie XI for the clash at Old Trafford after the opener made scores of four and one in the third Test loss at Headingley, being dismissed by England seamer Stuart Broad for the 16th and 17th time respectively in Test cricket.

While he made 66 in the first innings at Lord’s earlier in the series, Warner – who has flagged his desired Test retirement date for next January – is averaging just 28.17 in the format over the past three years.

Fellow left-hander Harris entered this tour as the man most likely to replace Warner, however all-rounder Mitch Marsh’s century at Leeds has complicated the picture given the man he relieved, Cameron Green, is set to be available for the Manchester clash, which begins on Wednesday.

Both Green and Marsh have opened in white-ball cricket for Australia however Green said on Friday that doing so in the Test arena would be “a stretch.”

Marnus Labuschagne and Mitch Marsh (with Steve Smith) are possible replacements along with Marcus Harris if David Warner loses his opening spot. Picture: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

If Australia wants to squeeze both Green and Marsh into the XI, other options include moving Travis Head or Marnus Labuschagne to the top of the order to partner Usman Khawaja.

However Harris – who averaged less than 10 in three Tests during the 2019 Ashes – said that opening in the UK required a particular skill set.

“I think it depends on the conditions and where you are. Like you saw in the subcontinent, it is probably the best time so to have someone destructive like Heady, he can open the batting there,” Harris said.

“But I think probably in England and in Australia, the way the wickets have been the last couple of years and New Zealand, those sort of wickets, it‘s more of a specialist position. And you want your destructive players like Greeny or Mitch or Travis to be coming in against a bit more of an older ball.”

Harris said England was probably the toughest place for a non-opener to face the new ball.

“I think so. Maybe those first two wickets were all right. Like definitely Edgbaston would have been okay but I think like we saw at Lord‘s whenever there was some overheads and at Headingley it was hard work. My experiences from county cricket (are) if you cop the wrong time of the day to open the batting, especially if you’re a destructive batsman it’s probably not ideal.”

Harris added that he had tried to steer clear of debate about Warner’s position, instead focusing on ensuring he was ready if needed.

“Yeah, I just try and be ready to go all the time. You never you never know what‘s going to happen these days. Like I said, with Greeny last game going out and Mitch having to come in, Mitch probably didn’t expect to play the third Test of the series so I’m just ready to go. Like I said before when we came over, I said Davey’s earned the right to pull the pin whenever he wants to pull the pin and he’s done well this series. England’s not an easy place to open the batting and you know, him and Uz have got us off to some good starts, so if I have to wait till then and then so be it but if something comes up earlier, I’m ready to go,” Harris said.

Harris says he’s ready to go if required at the top of the order. Picture: Ryan Pierse-ICC/ICC via Getty Images

“I think it‘s always a good discussion point. Davey’s obviously a bit of a lightning rod for opinion. But I think they’ve done really well – as an opening partnership when you can get the team off to a good start. Even if you’re not getting the big runs that you want to get, if you can still contribute to the team in some way, shape or form, I think you’re doing a job. But that’s coming from an opening batter so I’m probably biased towards that.”

Harris said he had been given the option to play county cricket between the third and fourth Tests but was keen for a few days away from the game having been in the UK for well over three months.

“I thought it would be good to have a couple of days off and get away from cricket altogether. I have been here since April 1 so it has been a pretty long tour. The training we can do now with how big the squad is as a collective, during the games is as good, if not better, than playing a game of cricket. I don‘t feel like I haven’t had a lot of cricket.”