AUS v IND 2018-19: Marcus Harris speaks on his relationship with coach Justin Langer ahead of his Australia debut

Sheffield Shield performances still do matter in team selection, says Marcus Harris.

Harris is the second leading run-scorer in the ongoing Sheffield Shield 2018-19 with 437 runs | Getty Images

Marcus Harris has denied any bitterness with then Western Australia coach Justin Langer, who is currently serving as Australia cricket team head coach, following his sudden departure from the stateside in 2016, as he is in line to make Test debut next month against India.

He is also keen on wearing Baggy Green to realize his dream, for which, he has been working for a long time.

The 26-year-old left the Western Warriors Club for Victoria in a bid to search of better form, and ever since, Harris has cracked five centuries across 25 first-class matches at an average of 47.58.

At the moment, the left-hander is the second leading run-scorer in the ongoing Sheffield Shield 2018-19 with 437 runs at an astounding average of 87.40, which brought him national Test call for India Tests.

The batsman further went on to insist that he understands “how Langer felt” when he left the Club, although he was also disappointed, they remain share “a good relationship” despite all this.

Harris told Sportstar on Friday (November 23), “I would be disappointed, too, if someone left after you had invested time into them. But we have a good relationship, I’ve known him a long time and we’ve remained good friends throughout.”

He further revealed, “I got a call from Cricket Australia’s chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns to tell me I was in the squad. I’ve been around the cricket scene for a while now and to be given this opportunity is something I’ve been working towards for a long time.”

Meanwhile, the Sheffield Shield –Australia’s premier First-class tournament has once again grabbed limelight after the inclusion of Harris and Peter Handscomb in the national Test squad for India series, and Victoria batsman said the Shield performances do matter in national selection.

Harris further added, “I guess Chris Tremain and I are proof that the Sheffield Shield performances do matter and we’re being judged on the weight of runs you make or wickets you take. I know Langer has reiterated the importance of respecting Shield cricket and the important role it plays.”

While there are as many as five Victorian players in the 14-man Australia squad for the first two Tests against India and Harris is delighted to see so many of his state-teammates making cut into the squad.

Harris signed off by saying, “It’s great to have so many of the [Victoria] boys in the team. Peter Siddle is obviously a Test veteran, Peter Handscomb has been in great touch and has played India before in a Test series and Aaron Finch was one of the better performers in the UAE. I’m just grateful that selectors have given Chris and I the opportunity to be involved at this level as well. I think the Australian public just want us to get back to playing good cricket and that should lead to the victories which will make everyone proud of what we represent.”

(With Sportstar Inputs)

 
 

By Rashmi Nanda - 24 Nov, 2018

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