Justin Langer clarifies 'mediocre' reference, saying he sees Marcus Harris 'like my little brother'

Langer's suggestion that Harris was "mediocre with flashes of brilliance" - made around the time of Harris's departure from Western Australia two years ago - has been paraded across the media following the Victoria star's selection for the Test squad

Justin Langer has clarified remarks he made about Marcus Harris in 2016 after calling the batsman up to the Australia Test squad for the first time.

Langer's suggestion that Harris was "mediocre with flashes of brilliance" - made around the time of Harris's departure from Western Australia two years ago - has been paraded across the media following the Victoria star's selection for the upcoming series against India.

But the Aussie head coach has emphatically denied there is any issue between the pair, saying that allegations to the contrary are "like a dagger to my heart".

"Let me squash this straight away. Marcus Harris is like my little brother. I've known him at Scarborough Cricket Club since he was about 10 years old," Langer said a press conference.

"Did I say (he was) mediocre with flashes of brilliance? Yes I did because that's what he was. That's the truth, look at it!

^{Marcus Harris has been called up by Australia}

"I used to turn up to every Sheffield Shield game to watch my little brother bat, I could not wait to watch him bat because I love the way he goes about his business.

"He used to work hard, I used to throw millions of balls to him. But then he'd get 20 and I wanted to shake him every time. I wanted to shake him.

"I wanted to say 'mate, you're getting 20s, that's mediocre'. Is 20 mediocre? Is 20 mediocre?"

Harris left Western Australia two years ago with a Sheffield Shield average of 28.43 from 41 games, a meagre return for the man who had become the youngest Australian to ever make a first-class 150 - against Queensland in 2011.

There has been speculation that his move to Victoria, for whom he has become the most prolific Sheffield Shield batsman over the past two seasons, was borne out of a deterioriation in his relationship with Langer, then WA's head coach.

But both parties insist that is not the case.

JL sets the record straight! #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/aDbf2L0gji

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 22, 2018

"We had a really good meeting when I left WA and I know we ended on good terms," Harris said. "I understood if you put a lot of time into someone and they leave the state you'd be upset. That was fine by me and it's all good, no worries there."

And Langer continued: "I keep reading headlines there's a big thing about Justin Langer and Marcus Harris because he said he's mediocre. He's my little brother. I love him. I love him. He makes me laugh every time I see him.

"When I read those things it's like a dagger to my heart because I know it's actually not what happened. He came to Victoria for a lot of reasons, not just cricket reasons. I'm really happy to see him get selected.

"What he's done (since leaving Western Australia) to his great credit is he's become a really consistent opening batsman with flashes of brilliance, and that's what really good players do.

"That's why he's been selected to play for Australia. So please, anyone who thinks there's something with me and Harris. It's an absolute myth. And I hate myth."

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