Marcus Harris, who narrowly missed out on a Test recall, has been signed by the defending champions Perth Scorchers as a replacement player for the closing stages of the Big Bash League (BBL). The left-handed batsman’s signing comes as the Scorchers face the absence of key overseas players, with Zak Crawley on England Test duty and Laurie Evans unavailable due to an ILT20 deal.
Harris, who previously played for the Melbourne Renegades in the BBL, brings a wealth of experience to the Scorchers. Having played 14 matches for the Scorchers between 2014 and 2016, Harris has accumulated 981 runs in T20s at an average of 20.43 and a strike rate of 121.71.
The Scorchers secured a place in the finals with a victory over the Brisbane Heat but face a crucial game against the Sydney Sixers to earn a spot in the Qualifier. This match will determine whether they have the opportunity for a second chance in the finals. The Scorchers are aiming to become the first team to complete a hat-trick of BBL titles.
Importantly, Harris will be eligible to play in the finals even if he doesn’t feature against the Sydney Sixers. While overseas signings typically need to make a regular-season appearance to be eligible for the finals, this requirement does not apply to local replacement players.
Harris was overlooked for a Test comeback when selectors chose Matt Renshaw as the spare batter in the squad to face West Indies. This decision came after the selectors promoted Steven Smith to open and recalled Cameron Green at No. 4.
With Harris joining the Scorchers’ ranks, the team aims to strengthen its lineup for the crucial stages of the BBL as they pursue another title.
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