Sheffield Shield: Marcus Harris’ Ashes hopes take a tumble

Incumbent Test opener Marcus Harris’ grip on his spot in the national team further loosened.

Harris went without scoring on Sunday. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Incumbent Test opener Marcus Harris’ grip on his spot in the national team further loosened on Sunday as Victoria closed in on another Sheffield Shield win against NSW at the MCG.

With the Ashes series only a month away, Harris failed again for the Bushrangers, who have got the Blues on the ropes at stumps on day three at 3-61, chasing an improbable victory target of 422.

After scoring one in the first innings, Harris was dismissed for a duck early on the third day, trapped lbw by Sean Abbott (1-33).

Harris made a century against the Blues in their previous match, but he now only has one more opportunity at Shield level to impress national selectors and cem­ent his place as David Warner’s opening partner before the first Test against England in Brisbane.

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He wouldn’t want to rest on his laurels, either, with Queensland’s Usman Khawaja starting the first-class season with a bang, having already hit back-to-back centuries against South Australia and Tasmania.

Both Harris and Nic Maddinson are expected to figure in a three-day intra-squad trial match in the week preceding the first Test.

Harris’ second innings didn’t go to plan. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

While it is expected that performance history will play a large part in national selection, any 50-50 choices could be decided in this hit out as was the case with Cameron Bancroft when he pipped Joe Burns to an Ashes berth in 2019 in a similar match in Southampton.

Harris and Maddinson are among the most prolific batsmen in recent Shield seasons but have modest Test records.

Victoria’s dominance was powered by Peter Handscomb and Matt Short (who both made 90), as the Bushrangers reached 5-248 in their second innings before captain Handscomb declared with 30 overs left in the day.

Short says Maddinson is ready to make a return to the Test team. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

Short couldn’t sing Maddinson’s praises enough with the 29-year-old picking up where he left off last season, with back-to-back knocks of 87 and 128 in his first two matches against NSW.

“Since he’s come to Victoria, I don’t know how many hundreds he’s had. He just seems to get it done every year and every game so he’s someone you can rely on to get the side in a good position,” Short said.

Fresh from skittling the Blues on Saturday, Victoria’s fearsome pace battery didn’t let their skipper down, with Scott Boland (1-19), James Pattinson (1-19) and Will Sutherland (1-12) preventing the visitors from laying a foundation by dismissing Matthew Gilkes (0), Jason Sangha (five) and Kurtis Patterson (24).

Play was brought to a halt early on day two so medical staff could assess Holland. Image: Fox

Gilkes departed in the first over when he was caught and bowled by Boland, and Patterson was sent packing with the fourth-last ball of the day when a Sutherland yorker caught him lbw.

Daniel Hughes (19) and Jack Edwards (zero) are the not-out batsmen for NSW.

After a wobbly start of their own in their second innings, the Bushrangers recovered from 2-13 to put the match out of the visitors’ reach.

Boland has continued his strong start to the summer. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Handscomb, who brought up his 47th first-class half-century, combined well with first-innings century-maker Maddinson (33) to stabilise the Bushrangers and reassert their dominance on the contest.

“Everyone is pretty hungry to put on a good performance and hopefully chase it down.”

Nick Maddinson has to be a show to bat 5 in the First #Ashes test. Form over the past few years has been outstanding. @cricketcomau

— Chadd Sayers (@Chaddsayers27) November 5, 2021

Trent Copeland checks his injured foot before leaving the MCG for scans. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

Maiden FC hundred for James Seymour 💪

An incredible story of persistence and determination. #vicsdoitbetter#SheffieldShieldpic.twitter.com/dbUhNDnDGy

— Victorian Cricket Team (@VicStateCricket) November 5, 2021

Victoria's batsman Marcus Harris holds his broken bat as he is dismissed by New South Wales bowler Liam Hatcher during their Sheffield Shield match in Melbourne on November 5, 2021. (Photo by William WEST / AFP)