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Olympic inspiration for Harris Shield epic

Victoria batsman Marcus Harris reveals a chat with gold medal-winning runner Cathy Freeman helped him hit form in the Sheffield Shield

Test aspirant Marcus Harris has revealed how an in-depth chat with Australian Olympic champion Cathy Freeman helped inspire him on his way to an epic double century.

Harris put his name into the race for Australia's Test squad with an unbeaten 250 for Victoria in their JLT Sheffield Shield clash with NSW at the MCG last week.

Freeman could have run her famous 400m race at the Sydney Olympics 723 times over in the time it took Harris to compile his epic innings, the knock coming from 403 balls in 592 minutes at the crease.

Full highlights as Harris hammers 250 not out

Harris, whose manager is married to Freeman, took the opportunity to pick the brains of the gold medal winner, who shared tips on staying measured and in control.

"I went and had a good chat with Cathy Freeman for about an hour, I reckon two months ago," Harris told RSN radio's Breakfast Club.

"We just spoke about the times when she was in big moments and how she dealt with it and what she did to get herself through it and keep herself calm.

"I'm not saying I'm running in front of the whole country, but I found a way to make it relevant to batting in cricket, just with trying to keep myself calm and understand I can take my time.

"Having a goal for the end of the day, that's probably what got me through."

Image Id: BD6B3B23E4DF4750AD67C1AEF9BA4874 Image Caption: Cathy Freeman with her Olympic 400m medal // Getty

The Victorian left-hander said he felt a big innings was coming ever since the chat, and felt in similar touch in the Shield's opening round against Western Australia at the WACA until he was lbw to Marcus Stoinis for a 26, a decision he termed "dubious".

Consequently, he enters the next round of Shield, with Victoria to meet South Australia at the MCG from Saturday, full of confidence.

"I haven't batted that long since my first hundred for Western Australia seven years ago," said Harris. "I knew I had it in me."

Back then he set a new Shield benchmark when he became the youngest Australian to make 150 in a first-class match as an 18-year-old in just his third Shield game.

JLT Moment: Harris hammers the Warriors

Harris has history with the new Australia coach Justin Langer, who described Harris as "mediocre with flashes of brilliance" on his departure from the Warriors for Victoria for the 2016-17 summer.

And even though Langer has declared "open season" on batting spots in the Australian Test side following the largely dismal returns in the two-Test series against Pakistan this month, the opener is keeping a level head.

"I've learnt to not look too far ahead, it tends to bite you in the arse," Harris said.

"It sounds a bit token, but it literally is just looking forward to the next game, seeing how that goes and do your best to put in a performance and win the game for Victoria."

"There's a lot of hype about it at the moment and that's just the way it is. Anytime anyone makes a run everyone jumps up and down, that's just part and parcel of it."