Batsman Marcus Harris named in Australian Test side to face India

Marcus Harris's weight of runs in recent seasons has been rewarded after he was named in Australia's squad for the first two Tests against India.

Harris was in the box seat to make his Test debut on December 6 at the Adelaide Oval since scoring an unbeaten 250 in Victoria's Sheffield Shield match against NSW last month, and now it has been confirmed.

Harris is in the team with Peter Handscomb named in an extended 13-man squad, providing selectors cover for fit-again batsman Usman Khawaja, with Chris Tremain the reserve paceman.

Alex Doolan and Matthew Wade, who sit first and third on the Shield run-scoring table, could count themselves somewhat unlucky but Handscomb toured India with Australia A earlier this year and has worked hard to tweak his technique.

Harris has been a consistent Shield performer since shifting from Western Australia to Victoria in 2016, scoring 1951 runs at 47.58.

The 26-year-old opener famously shunned the mentorship of Justin Langer when he left Perth.

"His performances have been mediocre with flashes of brilliance ... I respect the fact that our program is not for everyone," Langer, then WA coach, said at the time.

With Harris coming into the fold, the selection comes at the expense of Marnus Labuschagne in a reshuffled batting order.

Aaron Finch, Travis Head and Labuschagne, who all made their Test debuts last month in the UAE, have all struggled to put a big score on the board since returning home.

But no contender apart from Harris was able to put their hand up with a mammoth score during the opening four Shield rounds.

That is expected to count in the favour of Finch, who hasn't played a first-class game since the second Test against Pakistan, and Head, who may have saved his spot with a recent knock of 87 for South Australia.

Khawaja will return from a knee injury in Queensland's Shield clash with Victoria next week.

He is one of the contenders to open the batting against India, having done the job superbly against Pakistan last month.

Tim Paine may be tempted to return the star batsman to his normal spot at No.3.

Shaun Marsh is another option to open if Australia aren't keen on the raw pairing of Finch and Harris.

AUSTRALIAN TEST SQUAD

Pat Cummins (New South Wales)
Aaron Finch (Victoria)
Peter Handscomb (Victoria)
Marcus Harris (Victoria)
Josh Hazlewood (VC - New South Wales)
Travis Head (South Australia)
Usman Khawaja (Queensland)
Nathan Lyon (New South Wales)
Mitch Marsh (VC – Western Australia)
Shaun Marsh (Western Australia)
Tim Paine (C - Tasmania)
Peter Siddle (Victoria)
Mitchell Starc (New South Wales)
Chris Tremain (Victoria)