Marcus Harris will attempt to make up for his disappointment at missing out on a Test comeback by piling on the runs for Lancashire in English county cricket.
The diminutive 32-year-old left-hander may have seen his last chance of a Test comeback for Australia thwarted when overlooked for the India series as selectors plumped for younger openers in Sam Konstas and Nathan McSweeney with an eye to the future.
But even if he now looks unlikely to add to his 14 Test appearances, Harris is still in demand in England where he has provided a steady supply of runs in the county championship over the past four years at Gloucestershire and Leicestershire.
Now Lancashire have come calling, announcing on Thursday that the Perth batter will playing first-class championship matches and also some limited-overs fare for the county in 2025.
Last season, Old Trafford-based Lancashire had star Aussie spinner Nathan Lyon in their ranks, but even his wiles couldn’t stop them getting relegated to division two of the championship.
Meanwhile, Harris was playing the English summer for Leicestershire, amassing 388 runs and averaging 43 in a mixed season, which did feature one double century for the Western Australian at Derby.
Altogether, Harris, who has 29 first-class tons to his name, has scored 2226 championship runs in England at an average of 48.
“I am really excited by the opportunity to join Lancashire for the English summer and will give my all to help this great club win promotion back to division one of the County Championship,” Harris told the club’s website on Thursday.
“I have really enjoyed my time playing county cricket in England over the last few years and to start a new challenge with Lancashire is something which I am really looking forward to getting stuck into.
“Old Trafford holds some special memories for me after we retained the Ashes there back in 2019 and I know that Nathan Lyon and Chris Green have both spoken so highly about their time at the club.”
What a club! Loved my time @lancscricket 🌹 Hopefully see you back soon 🤞🏻 Chris Green (@chrisgreen_93) August 12, 2024
Allrounder Chris Green is also back at Lancashire in 2025 after a fine first season.
Allrounder Green, who had a successful spell at Old Trafford last season, will play again this season in the T20 Blast group stages, and could be playing alongside Harris in the One-Day Cup.
Harris recently got back into the limited-overs swing, if not very successfully, with the Renegades in the BBL.
Lancashire director of cricket performance Mark Chilton said: “It was important to us that we got somebody on board who was going to be available for the majority of the County Championship this summer with the appropriate pedigree.
“Marcus ticks that box, while he will also add valuable experience to our side in the One-Day Cup during August.”
#Marcus #Harris #Nathan #Lyon #Lancashire #lad
