'You don’t lose belief because you weren’t dropped on the basis of form' - Marcus Harris opens up on stepping into David Warner's place

In a surprising turn of events for cricket enthusiasts, Australian opener David Warner is gearing up to bid farewell to his Test and ODI career following the third and final Test match against Pakistan in Sydney, starting on January 3. It is worthy to mention that Warner will be remembered as one of Australia's most prolific batters.

With no designated backup opener in the current Test squad, speculations are rife that a player from the domestic cricket circuit will step up to fill the void. Marcus Harris, who last graced the Test arena in 2022, is emerging as a strong contender for the crucial opening position. Harris, who made way for Usman Khawaja after an outstanding performance during the Ashes 2021/22, has expressed confidence and gratitude for being considered for the opening role. Besides, the Aussie also highlighted the inspiration drawn from Khawaja's journey and how it added to his confidence.

“It does give me the confidence they have looked at me as being the next opener in line. I’d like to think I haven’t done much wrong for that to change. I feel like my performances over a long period of time have stayed consistently at a good level. I feel like I’ve done what I’ve needed to do," Harris said.

Despite being dropped, Harris remains optimistic, pointing out that he wasn't sidelined due to a lack of form. He draws parallels with Khawaja's resurgence, emphasizing that belief and consistent performances in domestic cricket keep his spirits high.

“You don’t lose belief because you weren’t dropped on the basis of form. The perfect case in point is probably Uzzie. You hear how in 2019 he thought he was done, probably never play again. His last two years have been the best cricket he’s played,” Harris was quoted as saying by the Sydney Morning Herald.

The message to Harry is we think he is going really well, he's certainly part of future: Pat Cummins

Addressing the uncertainty surrounding Australia's opening combination for the post-Warner era, Captain Pat Cummins had previously expressed confidence in Marcus Harris. Cummins had affirmed Harris' pivotal role and the team's commitment to investing in his potential.

"I think he knew it was coming," Cummins had said after the Sydney Test in 2022. The message to Harry is we think he is going really well. It's really tough on him. It's not too often someone comes in and hits two hundreds in the same game. But I thought Marcus has been really good I think he's been growing with each game he was a huge part in how we won that MCG Test with a crucial innings," Cummins stated further.

"So he's certainly part of the future. We'll keep investing in him. I think he's been going really well," he concluded.

As the cricketing world anticipates Warner's farewell, all eyes are on Harris, who remains steadfast in his determination to seize the opportunity and contribute significantly to Australia's cricketing future.