Big hundreds blow Test race wide open

With David Warner’s spot up for grabs following his flagged retirement after the Sydney Test, the left-hander had fallen behind in-form duo Cameron Bancroft and Matt Renshaw in the pecking order.

But a huge 164 on a good batting pitch at the CitiPower Centre will bring the nationally contracted opener back to the forefront of the selectors’ minds.

Harris said he was trying to “stay neutral” following the innings after a tough start to the season.

“It was just one of those things where you’ve got to keep backing yourself in,” Harris said.

“I was hitting them alright (in the nets). I was working extra hard to try and find a way to get myself into some sort of form.

“Like I’ve said before, it will all look after itself in the long run … when you have a lean patch like I have those first two Shield games, it makes you extra hungry to want to stay there and grind them out, make up for those days.”

Despite Harris’ 306-ball vigil, Tasmania retained the upper hand after clever use of reverse swing helped reduce Victoria to 373 and secure a 79-run first innings lead.

The Tigers declined the new ball after 80 overs and even swapped out their 90-over-old ball for another one, which Harris said he “wouldn’t give to my dog”.

“It made it really hard to score, it was very frustrating,” Harris said.

Tasmania was 1-15 with a lead of 94 when rain hit late in the final session and brought an early end to play on day three, after Peter Siddle had Caleb Jewell removed cheaply with an excellent catch from Matt Short diving to his left at second slip.

South Australia opener Henry Hunt pushed on with his first day hundred to help the Redbacks into a commanding position at the Gabba with his own reminder to the national selectors.

The 26-year-old reached 162 in damp conditions as he put on 212 with Nathan McSweeney (112 not out) who brought up his second Shield hundred for the summer.

Hunt’s innings broke a first-class hundred drought stretching back to June 2022, when the right-hander toured Sri Lanka with Australia A.

He was handed the Redbacks captaincy last season but his form troubled him to the extent that he rescinded the role midway through the summer.

The Redbacks declared their innings closed on 5-359 before Jordan Buckingham snagged the important wicket of Renshaw in the final session for 26.

Bryce Street was unbeaten on 47 and Joe Burns on five as the Bulls reached 1-82 at stumps.

Originally published as Sheffield Shield: Marcus Harris reignites Test bid with century