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Hayden’s Gabba warning to Harris

Matthew Hayden has reissued a firm warning to Marcus Harris that he must be prepared to “eat his meat and potatoes” before he chases a flash dessert at the Gabba.

Marcus Harris bats during a nets session at the Gabba Picture: Getty Images
Marcus Harris bats during a nets session at the Gabba Picture: Getty Images

Matthew Hayden has reissued a firm warning to Marcus Harris that he must be prepared to “eat his meat and potatoes” before he chases a flash dessert at the Gabba.

The Brisbane batting great gave the same caution to Harris when he last played at the ground two summers ago, but the left-hander failed to heed it — slashing wildly square of the wicket to butcher a golden chance with a soft dismissal against Sri Lanka.

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So far those kind of loose shots have defined Harris’s nine Tests, but a shoulder injury to Will ­Pucovski has opened the door for him to be called back up for the first time since being dropped at the end of the 2019 Ashes.

Pucovski is a massive loss for Australia after he showed all the hallmarks of a career Test opener in Sydney, and Hayden says for Harris to finally make his mark in a do-or-die series decider, he must learn from past mistakes and this time obey the laws of the Gabba.

The same rules Test great Bill Brown passed down to Hayden, Hayden is now pleading with Harris to follow: play straight down the ground and resist the temptation to play through cover, point and gully as if your life depends on it.

“The challenge at the Gabba is you start seeing the ball well. It’s a big open ground, and it’s a wicket that always lulls you into a false sense of security,” said Hayden, who will join the Seven Network’s commentary team at the Gabba.

“I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been out disappointed because I’ve even just thought about playing square of the wicket.

“You walk and call yourself an idiot because the moment you start looking straight, you bat longer, you bat time

“Someone like Marcus who is a very good square of the wicket player is always tempted to be in that situation where you start playing those shots too early and when you do that you’re at the risk of first, second, third slip, gully etc.

“It’s not just a fault of young Harris, it’s a fault of everyone who plays at the Gabba and you have to follow certain rules of play in these conditions.

“Billy Brown told me this and I assume someone else told Billy. Browny was always so adamant — playing down the ground is the key to batting at the Gabba.”

Pucovski tried to muscle his way through a fitness test but couldn’t even manage to get out into the nets, after damaging his shoulder diving in the field at the SCG.

Captain Tim Paine admits Australian medical staff aren’t sure what shape Pucovski’s recovery will take, but there is hope he can avoid surgery and therefore book his place on the touring party for South African next month (presuming the tour goes ahead). It’s the latest chapter in Pucovski’s extraordinary run of misfortune.

“He’ll have a bit of work to do with our medicos to see where he goes from here,” said Paine. “There will be some discussions around Will’s recovery. What that looks like I’m not sure at the ­moment.”

Hayden backed David Warner to lead the way for Harris and find a way to make an impact despite the physical and mental constraints of his groin injury.

Back in his playing days, Hayden said some of his best innings — including his world-record 380 — were when he was physically impaired (that time with a back injury), and he expects Warner to find the sweet spot on how to manage his body and mind.

“The best feeling in life is achieving something you never thought was possible,” said Hayden. “For Davey I think he’ll thrive on that sort of pressure.”

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Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/cricket/haydens-gabba-warning-to-harris/news-story/9da9d821ad2d61fa4a5f648f5e337862