Marcus Harris makes third hundred in England just before Australian selectors confirm World Test Championship final squad
Just as the deadline looms for Australian selectors to pick their squad for the World Test Championship final, Marcus Harris made another hundred in England to take his county run haul past 700 for the season.
The Australian squad for the July showdown against South Africa at Lord's needs to be submitted to the ICC on Monday, and Harris, who was part of the Ashes touring parties in both 2019 and 2023, has sent a timely reminder of his abilities in England.
Harris has been prolific in recent county seasons and, despite being pushed to the outer of the Test side by the emergence of teen tyro Sam Konstas, has continued to deliver piles of runs, this time for Lancashire.
His latest innings was a five-hour, 230-ball knock on a difficult Northampton pitch, hitting 18 boundaries and taking advantage of being dropped twice.
100 brought up in style by Harry. 🤌
101-2 (27); 135 runs required…
🌹 #RedRoseTogether pic.twitter.com/sYtpJHvArr
— Lancashire Cricket Men (@lancscricket) May 11, 2025
Harris finished with 121 against the Darren Lehmann-coached Northamptonshire on Saturday, his third century in a month.
The 32-year-old, who played the last of his 14 Tests in 2022, has compiled a county-leading 706 runs in nine innings, including three 50s as well as his three tons, at an average of 88.25.
His hundreds included 138 at Lord's against Middlesex and 167 at Old Trafford.
Harris has 140 runs more than any other batter in England this country season across both divisions.
There remains contention about who could open the batting with Usman Khawaja amid speculation that Konstas could be overlooked after a limp end to the Sheffield Shield season.
In the 2019 Ashes, Harris only made 52 runs in three Tests after replacing Cameron Bancroft at the top of the order. He didn't play a game in 2023.
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- News.com.au
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"But it was more from a tactical point of view. A little bit more pace from Lungi, he's taller as well." AUSTRALIA: Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Beau Webster, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins (capt), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood. SOUTH AFRICA: Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Wiaan Mulder, Temba Bavuma (capt), Tristan Stubbs, David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne, Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi. This AAP article was made possible by support from Amazon Prime Video, which is broadcasting the World Test Championship final. Marnus Labuschagne has been picked over Sam Konstas to be Usman Khawaja's opening partner for Australia's World Test Championship final at Lord's. The 30-year-old will move up from No.3 to open for the first time at Test level as Australia seek back-to-back WTC titles. 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