‘Love at first sight’: Smokey eyes Test recall

Harris had a triumphant return to first-class cricket this year, compiling 355 runs in three innings during the Sheffield Shield.

But the 28-year-old was overshadowed by Victorian teammate Will Pucovski, who plundered consecutive double-centuries before earning a call-up to the Test squad.

Meanwhile, Burns could only muster 57 runs in five Sheffield Shield innings this season, averaging a pitiful 11.40.

According to reports, Australian stalwart David Warner will almost certainly be unavailable for the first Test match in Adelaide, opening the door for Harris to be a potential late inclusion to the squad.

Harris, Pucovski and Burns will each have a chance to push their case in tour matches at Drummoyne Oval and the SCG this week, and according to The Australian’s Peter Lalor, selectors may favour the Victorian duo if Burns fails again.

“How long can you keep excusing Joe Burns’ run of small scores this summer?” Lalor queried on ABC’s Offsiders.

“If he posts two small scores in this game and potentially in the next game, how can he play?”

Australian coach Justin Langer recently conceded selectors were favouring Burns because of his chemistry with Warner at the top of the order.

But Lalor pointed out the Victorian pair’s record-breaking 486-run partnership against South Australia would suggest they have an even stronger bond at the crease.

“While we get that (Burns) is the incumbent and should be the first choice to that point, the other argument was chemistry,” Lalor said.

“Who are the two openers who posted the highest ever score in the history of Sheffield Shield cricket three or four weeks ago? Harris and Pucovski.

“Talk about chemistry, that’s instant chemistry. That’s love at first sight.”

Harris has not represented Australia since the 2019 Ashes series, where England’s seam bowlers exposed issues with the left-hander’s technique.

He averaged 24.06 with the bat in nine Test appearances before he was dropped for Burns ahead of the 2019/20 home summer.

ABC Grandstand commentator Alister Nicholson believes Harris has not done enough to warrant a recall in place of Burns, who boasts four Test centuries to his name.

“Harris had the opportunity. He got to play in the most recent Ashes in England. He hasn’t been able to hold his spot,” Nicholson said on Offsiders.

“It seems to me like as much as he has knocked down the door with a lot of runs in the Sheffield Shield over a number of years — and that’s the best way to get into the Australian team — he’s just got a little bit longer to prove himself to get back in and show that he’s made adjustments to his technique.”