Joe Burns’ youth and batting versatility have emerged as important factors in his surprise Test cricket selection.
The 25-year-old Queenslander will make his debut on Boxing Day at the MCG, coming into the Australian team to replace injured all-rounder Mitch Marsh.
Australian coach Darren Lehmann said one reason the selectors went for Burns was that the team already had several older players in the top seven, such as Brad Haddin, Shane Watson and Chris Rogers.
“There’s only one eye on the future – you have to live for the now,” Lehmann told 5AA.
“Obviously we have some older players in the group, so we felt it was a really good time … to bring in a younger guy more so than anything else, to really balance that out.”
Lehmann said it was a tight call between Burns and several other batsmen who are pushing for Test berths.
One of them is Tasmanian and former Test opener Ed Cowan, who has impressed with four Sheffield Shield centuries so far this summer.
“A big thing for us is where he can bat,” Lehmann said of Cowan.
“Joe can go either up the top or bat middle order.
“Ed – we see him as an opener.”
Lehmann also defended the Test recall of Shaun Marsh, while admitting the ongoing debate about the West Australian’s overall form is “warranted”.
“You sometimes have to go with your gut feel and sometimes it isn’t going to make sense to people,” the Australian coach said.
“He got a start in both innings (in the Brisbane Test), hopefully he gets some runs in this Test.”
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