Harris hits superb century as county season resumes

Marcus Harris has returned to red-ball form with a well-timed century for Gloucestershire in England's County Championship.

Opening the innings after Somerset put Gloucestershire into bat Harris made 159, his highest score of the season and his third century of the campaign.

Hitting 17 fours and a six in his 263-ball stay Harris helped Glos to 6-320 at the close of the first of four days' play at Taunton in match pivotal for the relegation battle both counties find themselves in.

Harris began his season in England's west country with two centuries in April – 136 against Yorkshire and 124 against Surrey, both at the county's home ground in Bristol. But since then big scores had been elusive, though he made four 50s in eight innings in the 50-over one-day cup in August.

However, this century lifted his Championship average this season to 44 from 36 and comes at a good time.

Image Id: BA80D383EE5D47BCB62F22144C777B75 Image Caption: The majority of Harris' runs came behind square on the off side // Getty

The Australian selectors' minds are very much on white-ball cricket at present as the T20 World Cup preparations gear up, but further down the track there are home Test series against West Indies and South Africa starting in late November.

Finishing the English season strongly will set Harris up as he returns to Victoria and bids to regain his Test place.

Harris was dropped after the fourth Ashes Test last January, being the batter to make way when Travis Head regained his place after a bout of COVID-19 as the returning Usman Khawaja had become undroppable with twin centuries.

Harris failed to make the XI for the Tests in Pakistan and was omitted from the squad that toured Sri Lanka. At 30, without a century in 14 Tests, he does not have time on his side.

On Monday Harris and Ben Charlesworth (56) put on an opening stand of 126 while 21-year-old Ollie Price (52) provided further support against a Somerset attack featuring Sajid Khan.

Image Id: FAB83C45495341F695D5152DB3940ADF Image Caption: It wasn't all good news as Harris did see a favourite piece of willow snap // Getty

The Pakistan off-spinner gave Harris his one moment of anxiety, on 33, when he survived a sharp chance to George Bartlett at short-leg.

At lunch Harris was 47no and he soon brought up a 99-ball half-century. After a rain break the left-hander hit Sajid over his head for the day's only six.

A late cut for four off Sajid took Harris to his 22nd first class hundred, off 174 balls.

Wickets began to fall at the other end, with the new ball having a impact, but Harris batted serenely on before, with eight balls of the day remaining, he edged a back-foot shot off Jack Brooks to Lewis Gregory at slip.

Harris and fellow Victorian Nic Maddinson are the only Australians still in action in the County Championship, with Maddinson spending the day in the field at Derbyshire after his Durham side won the toss and opted to bowl, bowling the home side out for 306 in the day's final over.