Marcus Harris warns Australia dropping David Warner could backfire on Cameron Green and Mitch Marsh

Marcus Harris has warned that Australia‘s opening role should be reserved for specialists in England as he believes elevating hard-hitting middle-order players is fraught with danger.

Australia are still mulling over their options for the fourth Ashes Test, after Pat Cummins and Andrew McDonald both stopped short of guaranteeing David Warner his spot.

If Warner was to be dropped, it would likely allow Australia to play a fit-again Cameron Green and in-form Mitch Marsh to play in the same side as they pursue an unassailable 3-1 series lead.

Options would include moving either of the allrounders to the top of the order, while Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne would be alternatives.

And while it remains unlikely the 30 year-old understudy Harris will be the man to come in, the opener is well aware how difficult opening in England is.

David Warner’s place in the Australian team is under scrutiny after a dismal run of form

The Aussie opener averages 23.5 in this Ashes series with just one half-century at Lord’s

He averaged 9.66 across three Tests in England four years ago, while the average opening stand in the country in the past four years has been 28.48.

And after spending the past three years playing county cricket in England, Harris believes it would be the toughest place for a makeshift opener.

‘My experiences from county cricket are if you cop the wrong time of the day to open the batting, especially if you’re a destructive batsman it’s probably not ideal,’ Harris said.

‘In the subcontinent, it is probably the best time so to have someone destructive like Heady, he can open the batting there.

‘But in England and in Australia, and the way the wickets have been the last couple of years and New Zealand, it’s more of a specialist position.

‘You want your destructive players like Greeny [Cameron Green] or Mitch [Marsh] or Travis [Head] to be coming in against a bit more of an older ball.’

Harris also threw his support behind Warner, with the veteran left-hander and Usman Khawaja having got Australia off to three 50-run opening stands before his double-failure in the Headingley defeat.

‘Davey’s obviously a bit of a lightning rod for opinion, but I think they’ve done really well as an opening partnership when you can get the team off to a good start,’ Harris said.

Australia’s reserve batter Marcus Harris warned that dropping Warner could backfire on Cameron Green and Mitchell Marsh

Marsh made a superb ton in Australia’s first innings at Headingley in the third Test

The fit-again Green is in contention to play the fourth Test at Old Trafford this week

‘Even if you’re not getting the big runs you want to get, if you can still contribute to the team in some way, shape or form, I think you’re doing a job.’

Warner’s looming retirement in January has also opened the door for Harris to soon return, with selectors having made clear in recent months they view him as next in time.

Harris is confident he is an improved player on four years ago in England, with more experience around the world and in county cricket.

‘I just try and be ready to go all the time. You never you never know what’s going to happen these days,’ Harris said.

‘Davey’s earned the right to pull the pin whenever he wants to pull the pin and he’s done well this series. So if I have to wait till then and then so be it but if something comes up earlier, I’m ready to go.’