Warner endorses experienced southpaw as his possible successor
With Warner due to retire from Test cricket after the New Year’s Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground, Australian cricket will begin its search for his replacement.
Matt Renshaw, Marcus Harris, and Cameron Bancroft are among the candidates in line. While all these batters have Test experience, there have been different takes on who should be Warner’s replacement.
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Now the man himself has spoken on the issue. Speaking after scoring a sturdy 38 against Pakistan, Warner backed Victoria batter Harris as being the batter who was next in line to replace him.
Harris has played 14 Tests and has scored 607 runs with three fifties to his name. The batter made his debut against India in 2018.
The southpaw reasoned, that having been on the bench in the Australia squad for some time now, made Harris a prime candidate to replace him.
“It's a tough one. It's obviously up to the selectors,” Warner said. “But from my position, I feel like the person who's worked their backside off and has been there for a while in the background.
“I think Harry's been that person. He's toured, he's going to have that chance. He scored a hundred the other day [referring to Harris’ hundred against Pakistan for Victoria XI].”
Warner added that if shown trust Harris might be able to show his real capabilities at the top.
“He missed out in a couple other games but he's always been that person who was next in line. If the selectors show faith in him, then I'm sure he'll come out and play the way he does.
“It's not too dissimilar to me. If he sees it in his areas, he goes for it, plays his shots, and I think he would fit well.”
Warner also backed his opening partner, Usman Khawaja, who is of the same age as him, to play for quite some time in the future.
“I think because Uzzy's spoken about the fact that he was resigned to the fact that he was done a few years back and now he's just playing like every game is his last.”
“He's going to keep playing as long as he can and it's a true testament to the way his mindset has been. His last 12 months have been absolutely phenomenal and he can play as long as he wants to and feels comfortable.”
Australia were placed at 187/3 at the end of the first day’s play in Melbourne.