Australia’s chairman of selectors George Bailey has indicated Marcus Harris will be given the first chance to partner David Warner at the top of the order in the Ashes.
Harris and Usman Khawaja were seemingly the two front-runners for the job, with young gun Will Pucvoski likely to miss with concussion.
Both had enjoyed good starts to the Sheffield Shield season, but Harris – who is the incumbent opener having played the last Test match against India in January – was praised by Bailey for the role.
“Harry (Harris) has had limited opportunities in the past, and he’s been in and out a bit, so we’d love nothing more than for him hopefully to get an opportunity to get an extended run at it,” Bailey told radio RSN, via The Age.
“What we have liked is his consistency. He’s obviously been a prolific run scorer at domestic level here, but we also love the fact he went overseas and had a great year for Leicester as well.”
The Ashes get underway in Brisbane on December 8.
The number five spot is also up for grabs, with Travis Head, Matthew Wade, Shaun Marsh and Khawaja all in contention, among others.
With a three-day trial game between the Ashes squad and Australia A apporaching on December 1-3, Bailey confirmed the teams – and that spot at five – are almost determined.
“That No.5 spot is open, but we’re starting to get fairly close there,” he said.
Bailey was confirmed as Trevor Hohns' replacement in one of Australian cricket’s most important roles in August this year.