Harris Misses WTC Final, Eyes New County Challenge

London, May 15 — Marcus Harris missed out on a spot in the World Test Championship final but has been appointed as the new captain of Lancashire County Cricket Club.

Despite Harris’s impressive run-scoring form during the English cricket season, which has made him the leading batsman in the country in 2025 with 749 runs from just 10 innings at an average of 83.22, Lancashire have struggled as a team. Following the resignation of former England batter Keaton Jennings as captain, the club has turned to Harris on an interim basis to lead a revival. Lancashire currently sits at the bottom of the County Championship’s second division.

The Red Rose team was relegated from the top division last season and was expected to bounce back this year. However, they have yet to win any of their first five matches in 2025, according to sources from Cricket Australia.

Harris’s appointment makes him the third Australian Test batsman to captain a second-division county this summer in England, joining Peter Handscomb of Leicestershire and Cameron Bancroft of Gloucestershire.

Josh Bohannon will serve as Harris’s vice-captain, and there is speculation that 42-year-old England pace legend James Anderson may return to play a key role when Lancashire face Derbyshire at Old Trafford.

Lancashire’s director of cricket performance, Mark Chilton, commented: “We hope this change in captaincy will allow Keaton to focus fully on his batting and ease some pressure. Marcus brings a fresh leadership perspective – though relatively new to the squad, he has previously worked with coach Dale Benkenstein at Gloucestershire, and his influence has been noticeable in the team’s performance so far this season. We also hope James Anderson’s return will add invaluable experience and leadership on the field.”