Harris
has
only
managed
38
runs
from
four
innings
during
the
series
and
averages
22.19
during
a
12-game
Test
career
with
only
two
half-centuries
from
23
innings
leading
to
pressure
on
his
spot
as
David
Warner’s
opening
partner.
Australia’s
2-0
Ashes
lead
has
helped
ease
some
pressure
on
Harris
but
Langer
publicly
threw
his
support
behind
him
in
a
further
boost
for
the
embattled
Victorian.
“He’ll
play
in
the
Test,
no
worries
about
that,”
Langer
told
reporters
on
Thursday
(December
23).
“This
is
his
home
ground.
He’s
played
a
lot
at
the
MCG.
“He
hasn’t
made
the
runs
he’d
like
to
so
far,
but
he
dominates
domestic
cricket
so
he
knows
that
he
knows
how
to
play.
“He’s
a
fantastic
bloke
around
the
squad
…
And
we
know
he’s
a
very
good
player.
For
him
and
for
us
we’re
hoping
he
plays
well
and
gets
a
good
partnership
with
Davey
Warner
in
this
Boxing
Day
Test
match.”
Australia’s
opening
partnerships
in
the
four
innings
this
Ashes
have
equated
to
an
average
of
17.75,
with
stands
of
10,
16,
four
and
41.
Langer
added:
“We’re
really
confident
Marcus
has
got
what
it
takes
to
be
a
successful
Australian
opening
batsman
and
what
we
see
in
the
nets,
what
we
see
in
domestic
cricket
all
adds
up
to
what
is
potentially
a
very
good
Test
career.
“One
of
the
building
blocks
of
a
great
team
is
the
opening
partnership
and
top
three.
We’re
determined
to
get
that
right.”
Former
Australia
left-handed
opener
Langer
endured
similar
struggles
during
his
playing
career
but
was
backed
by
ex-captain
Steve
Waugh.
The
51-year-old
coach,
who
worked
with
Harris
during
their
time
in
WA,
said
it
was
important
Harris
felt
“important
to
the
team”
to
bring
out
the
best
in
him.
“That’s
absolutely
one
of
the
most
important
things
in
life,
knowing
people
have
got
your
back,”
Langer
said.
“My
experience,
when
Steve
Waugh,
Ricky
Ponting,
Mark
Taylor
or
Allan
Border
said
‘you’re
in
the
team’,
you
feel
like
Superman.
You
feel
like
you’re
important
to
the
team
and
Marcus
Harris
is
important
to
the
team.”
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