Marcus Harris haunted by dropping Ben Stokes in Headingley thriller

The Australia opener spilt a catch which would have secured the Ashes for the tourists - before the England allrounder hit the winning runs 15 balls later

Australia's Marcus Harris continues to be tormented by the dropped catch which would have dismissed Ben Stokes and retained the Ashes at Headingley.

England's man-of-the-match, while on 116, shanked a Pat Cummins delivery down to third man where Harris dived full length but couldn't cling on.

Stokes hit fours off the next two balls and from Cummins' next over struck the winning runs to claim a one-wicket win and square the series at 1-1 heading into the fourth Test at Old Trafford next week.

The over in between saw Nathan Lyon fail to run-out Jack Leach and had an lbw appeal against Stokes turned down by umpire Joel Wilson as Australia.

But Harris still feels guilty for spurning the chance to secure the series at the first time of asking.

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"I've been trying not to think about it," Harris told RSN radio on Wednesday.

"But when you do that you tend to think about it more. So I've thought about it a little bit.

"When you put things into perspective, you're playing cricket for your country and you're involved in an unbelievable Test match. It could be worse."

He added: "I sort of felt like just with the way the game was going that we were always going to get an opportunity so we were all on our toes and ready to try and take one.

"I actually saw it alright and it went straight in my hand, and I couldn't have got it any better, but as soon as I hit the ground it just exploded out."

^{Australia were left to consider a traumatising defeat in Leeds}

Scores of eight and 19 in the Headingley Test means Harris' place at the top of the order is vulnerable. 

He will have the chance to stake his claim for Old Trafford in the tour match at Derbyshire and with Steve Smith and Mitchell Starc braced to come into the XI Harris knows he is under pressure.

"There's going to be someone who has to make room somewhere," he said.

"So I assume this game in Derby this week might have a bit on it.

"I think like most things in cricket, if you make runs or take wickets that tends to look after itself and if you don't you leave yourself vulnerable."

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