Former Australian selector Jamie Cox thinks David Warner should pull his head in after the retiring opener nominated Marcus Harris as his successor at the top of the Test team’s batting order. Cox, who served as a national selector...

Former Australian selector Jamie Cox thinks David Warner should pull his head in after the retiring opener nominated Marcus Harris as his successor at the top of the Test team’s batting order.

Cox, who served as a national selector from 2006-11, took umbrage after Warner declared in the media conference after day one of the Second Test that Harris would be his pick to succeed him as Usman Khawaja’s opening partner ahead of Cameron Bancroft and Matt Renshaw.

Warner’s own form and whether he would get dropped before his planned SCG farewell early next month had been an ongoing issue until he clubbed a hundred in the First Test against Pakistan in Perth.

“Well bugger me – another modern first! I have never heard of a current player anointing their successor. What’s wrong with ‘that’s a question for George Bailey not me’? I need a lie down…!” Cox posted on X.

Harris, Cameron Bancroft and Matt Renshaw are all vying to fill the opening spot Warner will vacate when he retires after the SCG Test against Pakistan in January.

There have also been calls to move one of Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne or Mitch Marsh to opener, which would allow allrounder Cameron Green to return to the line-up for two home Tests against West Indies in January.

But Warner nominated Harris, who was a member of Australia’s 2023 Ashes touring squad, as his choice to take over.

The 31-year-old Victoria left-hander boosted his hopes of succeeding Warner with a century in a tour match against Pakistan last week.

“It’s a tough one and it’s obviously up to the selectors but from my position I feel like the person who has worked their backside off and has been there for a while in the background (is Harris),” Warner told reporters after day one of the second Test against Pakistan.

“Harry’s been there, he’s toured … he’s always been that person who was next in line.

“If the selectors show their faith in him then I’m sure that he’ll come out and play the way he does.

“He’s not too dissimilar to me; if he sees it in his areas he goes for it and plays his shots. I think he would fit well.”

Marsh has found form batting at No.6 and declared he does not want to open the batting, while Hussey urged caution against forcing players up the order.

No more boos for Marsh

Mitchell Marsh copped a chorus of boos the last time he came out to bat in a Boxing Day Test after he replaced Victoria’s Peter Handscomb in the line-up back in 2018.

In a sign of respect, and possibly regret, from the MCG crowd, Marsh received a roaring reception when he walked out to bat on Wednesday.

He then achieved the rare feat of surviving back-to-back dismissals after umpire Joel Wilson made successive blunders early on day two of the Second Test.

The Australian all-rounder was on seven when he was given out LBW to Hasan Ali in the 74th over of the first innings with the home side 4-217 but after consulting with batting partner, Marnus Labuschagne, he called for a review.

Replays showed he snicked the ball onto his pad and Marsh was given a reprieve by the third umpire.

On the very next delivery, Hasan produced another false shot from Marsh and appealed for a caught-behind dismissal and Wilson again sent Marsh on his way.

This time, the review showed he had not hit the ball and it had brushed his pad as it carried through to wicketkeeper Muhammad Rizwan.

“Joel Wilson having a shocker, in my opinion,” said Pakistani legend Wasim Akram on Fox Cricket.

Travis Head was out early on day two after edging Shaheen Shah Afridi to slip on 17 and the rest of the batting line-up didn’t offer much resistance as the Aussies were bowled out for 318.

Marsh made 41 but extras were the second highest contributor for Australia with 52, just 11 shy of Labuschagne.

Heading into day two, Warner said Australia wanted to put the foot down in search of a first-innings score in excess of 400.

Australia resumed at 3-187 with Marnus Labuschagne (44no) and Travis Head (9no) at the crease and while they improved their scoring rate, wickets fell too regularly both before and after Pakistan took the second new ball.

During Mitchell Starc’s (9) brief innings, the new most-expensive recruit in the Indian Premier League became just the fourth Australian – after Richie Benaud, Shane Warne and Mitchell Johnson – to record 2000 runs and 300 wickets in Tests.

Another statistical talking point popped up in Pakistan’s innings when Saud Shakeel was bowled for nine by Josh Hazlewood.

It was the first time in his 16th Test innings that he has not made it to 20.

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