At a time when there are few certainties in Australia’s top six for the first Ashes Test in seven months' time, Marcus Harris’s stylish 79 put him one step closer to cementing a spot alongside David Warner, a player he admits he has been "envious" of over the last few years.
With a maiden Test century on the horizon, Harris was out 21 shy of triple figures after chopping a wider delivery from Ravindra Jadeja back onto his stumps.
Pulling his weight: Marcus Harris can expect to be in the calculations to open in the Ashes.Credit:AAP
Harris has now reached 20 in six of his seven Test innings and passed 50 on two of those occasions but failed to go on and make a hundred.
There was – and has been across the whole series – enough promise to argue Harris should be one of Australia’s openers in the UK.
With a compact technique and desire to capitalise on bad balls, many believe Harris’s temperament is tailor-made for English conditions.
Frustration: Marcus Harris after chopping the ball on to his stumps.Credit:AP
But perhaps more important is how Harris could work with Warner at taking the shine off the new ball.
"Disappointing not to get a hundred but it was good to spend some time in the middle and at least get a decent score," Harris said. "To at least be out there in the middle spending time has been satisfying. We've still got a second innings here and another Test series before the Ashes is to be worried about.
"I've never batted with David Warner so I'm not sure [how I would go]. I've definitely watched him and envied the way he plays. Anyone who can come out and make a hundred on the first morning of a Test is a pretty special player. There's definitely times I wish I could bat like him."
The feeling in the Australian camp is that Warner will be parachuted back into the team but whether or not Cameron Bancroft follows suit is unclear. The relationship between the pair is sure to be strained after Bancroft confirmed in a recent interview Warner was the architect of the ball tampering plot.
The emergence of Harris not only works in his favour because of what happened in the past but that his style is complimentary to Warner’s.
Lehmann, who was coach of the Australian team during the infamous South African series, said Harris boasted plenty of positive traits.
"The one reason you can say Marcus Harris will make a good foil for David Warner is he is busy," Lehmann on Macquarie Sports Radio said.
"Marcus Harris doesn’t get stuck. When you’ve got someone like David Warner who needs strike, it’s a perfect foil for him."
"I’m pretty sure he [Warner] is coming back mate but that’s obviously up to other people to decide."
Ian Chappell agreed Warner would be welcomed back and that Harris was in the box seat to earn selection in a maiden overseas Test.
"There’s been a lot to like about Marcus Harris in his short Test career so far," Chappell said. "He’s shown enough that I think when David Warner comes back he is going to make a good partner for him.
"I’m saying David Warner would come back and I’m hoping he comes back."
At the SCG on Saturday, Harris looked as polished as he has in any of his innings this series and he later confirmed he has not felt more comfortable at Test level.
A flurry of cut shots and strokes down the ground were met with warm applause. Harris's decision to use his crease unsettled the rhythm of India's spinners, but they finally got their man just as Australia looked to have found its first centurion of the series.
While sitting in the stands after his dismissal, Harris received a pat on the head from coach Justin Langer. It looked to be a reassuring gesture for a player who would love nothing more than to solidify himself as a dependable Australian opener for years to come.
"I was just frustrated the way I got out," Harris said. "I had been playing pretty positively towards the spinners and then got out playing a pretty half-arsed shot. That's all I spoke about with JL."
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