Under-pressure Harris targets Derby

Australia batsman Marcus Harris admitted he's under pressure to retain his spot in the Australian side for next week's fourth Test but is champing at the bit to press his case in this week's tour match against Derbyshire.

Harris said he'd never been as nervous on the cricket field as he was on the final afternoon of the Headingley Test, and has struggled to put his dropped catch off match-winner Ben Stokes during the onslaught out of his mind.

But the opener, who was inserted into the Test XI at Headingley in place of Cameron Bancroft, said a stirring speech from Tim Paine in the wake of that loss had put things into perspective and lifted the mood of the camp.

"He was really positive, it was obviously disappointing we didn't get result we wanted but we've been in every single Test match, given ourselves opportunities to win every Test match and played really well the whole series," Harris said on Macquarie Radio today.

"We came out of our meeting with Painey feeling, still upset at the situation, but really positive.

"He's been brilliant, he's had a really tough period to navigate through, now we're at the other end of it.

"Some slack should be cut. But everyone's got their option – and they're entitled to that – but I couldn't speak any more highly of him, he's been really good and positive."

Speaking on RSN's Breakfast Club, the Victorian expanded on what the Aussies could take away from Leeds: "As a team putting it in perspective of how well we actually played and the situation we got ourselves into to try and win the Test match," he said.

"We haven't been in that situation for a long time in England. We'd done a lot of things right, a lot of blokes had done some really good things throughout the Test match, and the series.

"We missed some opportunities under pressure but it is what it is and that's part of professional sport."

Harris found himself immediately in the firing line after Australia were put in to bat in Leeds in inclement conditions he described as "shocking".

"It was dark, it was raining, and Jofra (Archer) is bowling 90mph with a Dukes ball," he said. "It was hard work but a great challenge, and all part of Test cricket."

But that experience paled compared to the fevered atmosphere as England allrounder Stokes steered his side to a series-levelling win.

"It was absolutely nuts," Harris added. "You could sense it, sometimes you just know when something is a bit different, a bit special.

"And we had 15,000 yelling, screaming Poms going absolutely mental so you know you're in the middle of something pretty special.

"I don't reckon I've been that nervous, ever. You don't really get too nervous batting but fielding is a stressful situation, and when you're so close to the Ashes and everyone's trying so hard it just enhances that a bit more.

"It's a good situation for us to learn from. We'll look back at it and it'll be a great learning experience for all of us."

Harris admitted it had been tough to put the chance he dropped out of his mind, knowing he'd taken similar catches in matches before.

"I've been trying not to think about it but when you do that you tend to think about it more," he said.

Image Id: 51F6199336D245F6B7C6EDCA678E28BA Image Caption: Harris couldn't hold on to the catch as he hit the ground // Getty

"I've thought about it a little bit, but it is what it is, when you put things into perspective, you're playing cricket for your country, it was an unbelievable Test match: things could be worse.

"I felt like with the way the game was going we were going to get an opportunity and we were all on our toes and ready to try and take one.

"I saw it alright and it went straight in my hand – it couldn't have gone in any better – but as soon as I hit the ground it just exploded out.

"It was unfortunate, I've taken catches like that before. It was really disappointing, no-one tries to drop a catch or make a mistake.

"It was a high-pressure situation and they're the positions you want to be in as a professional cricketer and test yourselves."

Australia need one win from the two remaining Tests at Old Trafford (from September 4) and The Oval (from September 12) to retain the Ashes but face a three-day match against Derbyshire this week with a squeeze on for positions with Steve Smith due to come back into the Test side.

"There's going to be someone that's going to have to make room somewhere. This game in Derby will have a bit on it, you don't have to be Einstein to work that out," Harris said.

"There'll be a question mark over a few of us and I'm one of them, so this game will be pretty important.

"We've got a good opportunity to have a crack. I assume whoever makes some runs will put them in a good position to play the Test next week.

"Like most things in cricket, if you take wickets and make runs things will tend to look after themselves and if you don't you leave yourself vulnerable. We'll just have to wait and see how this week goes."

2019 Qantas Ashes Tour of England

Australia squad: Tim Paine (c), Cameron Bancroft, Pat Cummins, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Michael Neser, James Pattinson, Peter Siddle, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, David Warner.

England squad: Joe Root (c), Moeen Ali, Jimmy Anderson, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes (vc), Olly Stone, Chris Woakes.

First Test: Australia won by 251 runs at Edgbaston

Second Test: Match drawn at Lord's

Third Test: England won by one wicket at Headingley

Tour match: Australians v Derbyshire, August 29-31

Fourth Test: September 4-8, Old Trafford

Fifth Test: September 12-16, The Oval