Former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting has asked the team management to stick with the opening combination of David Warner and Marcus Harris. After a rocky starting, the left-handed opening pair began to show signs of promise.
Australia has a tough calendar year ahead of them in the game’s extensive format. The team is expected to tour Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and India in the space of twelve months.
Ponting vouched for Harris at the top of the order, following signs of progress. Speaking to cricket.com.au, Ponting added:
“If Warner and Harris are firmly entrenched in the team, then they’re the openers for that (Pakistan) tour. With Harris looking the part and starting to look a little bit more confident, hopefully, he gets a really good long run at it now.”
Ricky Ponting has urged Australia to resist the urge to tinker with their opening combination on upcoming subcontinental tours@hcltech | @LouisDBCameron https://t.co/ySFmRtTNNp
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 5, 2022
The 47-year-old added:
“It will actually be good for his development to play some cricket in those types of conditions as well. We always talk about how important that dynamic is between openers … so I certainly wouldn’t be tinkering with it.”
Marcus Harris secured arguably career-saving innings of 76 in the Boxing Day Test to bond the opening spot ahead of Usman Khawaja. He backed the pick call with a resolute 38 on Day 1 of the 4th Test in Sydney.
However, David Warner has interred the ghosts of his horrid 2019 Ashes tour. The southpaw is currently the leading run-scorer in the 2021-22 Ashes.
Now opening combination hasn’t had a lot of achievement together yet: Ponting
Marcus Harris opened side by side with David Warner initially in the 2019 Ashes series. The pair continued a horrid tour on English soil, averaging 9.50 likewise 9.66, respectively.
Including the current Sydney Test, they have opened together in 8-Tests. Ponting outlined how Harris can enhance his forward defense. He said:
“I just think (this current) opening combination that’s still quite embryonic and hasn’t had a lot of success together yet. You can just see he’s a little bit reluctant to get a good stride forward.”
Ponting elaborated:
“He ends up moving his front foot again after he’s played his forward defensive shot. That’s something that he’ll work on. I’m sure that’s something that will actually come to the more confidence he gets, and the more confidence he gets in his defensive game.”
HIGHLIGHTS: Australia started best but England hit back late amidst the rain #Ashes https://t.co/Ppw9z66nWH
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 5, 2022