Marcus Harris was cruising toward a statement innings—then disaster struck. The Victoria opener, long in the mix for an Ashes recall, was run out for 61 on day two of the Sheffield Shield clash against South Australia, dashing hopes of a confidence-boosting century just weeks before the England tour squad is finalized.
A Promising Start, A Painful End
Harris looked in fine touch during his 61-run knock, mixing solid defense with crisp cover drives—a welcome sight for selectors who’ve questioned his consistency in recent seasons. But with Victoria at 132 for 2 and building momentum in reply to South Australia’s 350 for 9 declared, a mix-up between Harris and teammate Peter Handscomb proved costly.
Handscomb pushed a ball toward mid-off and called for a quick single. Harris, momentarily hesitant, was caught short by a sharp throw from SA’s Henry Hunt. The third umpire needed no replays—Harris was well short of his ground.
Why This Matters for the Ashes
With Australia’s Ashes squad expected to be named in late October, Harris is in a tight race with the likes of Usman Khawaja, Nathan McSweeney, and even young gun Sam Konstas for the reserve opener role behind David Warner and Khawaja (if selected).
This innings was shaping up to be his best chance to press his case. Instead, he’ll head into selection discussions with a string of starts—but no big score to seal the deal.
Victoria vs South Australia: Key Day 2 Stats
| Team | Total | Key Performers |
|---|---|---|
| South Australia | 350 for 9 declared | Wes Agar (78), Henry Hunt (65), Alex Carey (52*) |
| Victoria | 167 for 3 (Day 2 stumps) | Marcus Harris (61), Peter Handscomb (42*), Will Pucovski (29) |
Frustration Mounts for Harris
This isn’t the first time Harris has fallen in the 60s this season. In his previous outing, he made 67 against New South Wales—again missing out on a much-needed hundred. His last first-class century came in 2022, raising legitimate concerns about his ability to convert starts into match-defining knocks.
“He’s technically sound, no doubt,” said former Test opener Chris Rogers. “But international cricket demands hundreds—not just fifties.”
[INTERNAL_LINK:Ashes 2025 Squad Watch] observers note that while Harris offers grit and experience, selectors may lean toward more explosive or consistent options if he can’t break the cycle of near-misses.
What’s Next?
Victoria still trails by 183 runs with seven wickets in hand. If Handscomb and Nic Maddinson can build a big partnership on day three, Harris’ dismissal may not prove fatal to the match—but for his Ashes dream, time is running out.
Sources
ESPNcricinfo: “Run out thwarts Harris after promising half-century”