Joe Burns is one of the most promising young batsmen in Australia, but he doesn’t get talked about enough. He’s not been earmarked and branded.
Burns is young, highly talented, and one of our best and brightest. So it’s time to take him out of the rough paddock and point him along the lighted path.
The issue here is my beloved Australian team being in need of some young blood. A number of the senior bats will probably make way over the next 18 months, if not prior to the next Ashes. So here’s an opportunity to showcase Smokin’ Joe.
Burns already won the Bradman Award for best young cricketer aged under 23 and has been leading runs-scorer for Queensland for the past few seasons. So far this summer he’s averaging 54.5 with a top score of 183. He has a first-class average of over 42, with seven centuries, and he’s only 25 years old so can be expected to improve.
He’s completed stints with Leicestershire and at the Centre of Excellence during the past winters and followed that up with selection for the Australia A tour of England last year. So the selectors are at least aware that he exists, ok, hopefully that means he’s earmarked somewhat.
The Steve Smith appointment showed good long-term judgment from the selectors. Burns could benefit from that same sort of thinking. We sure as hell don’t need to be blooding any more so called ‘all rounders’ – they’re called ‘batsmen’, selectors!
But just quietly, you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do. Maybe Joe could roll down some mongrel spinners a la Glenn Maxwell.
Whoever is doing Burn’s PR needs to step it up because he should be talked about for higher honours more than some of the names being bandied about. In a time where we only have two or three bankable bats and a surplus of contributors, we need to be bolstering our batting stocks.
While his PR team are at it, they should look at tidying Joe up a bit – his cricinfo and Cricket Australia pics which are not going to sell many cans of deodorant or shaving gear. Take him out of the rough paddock and set this young man along the path to the Test team’s middle order.
Golden
Guest
Just heard Joe Burns has been picked for the Boxing Day Test. You beauty!
Ken
Guest
Cowan at 3. No. Just NO.
Ken
Guest
No Haddin was just the heir apparent. That's the way it works with keepers. They need to go Whiteman now.
Ken
Guest
Ferguson? No-one with a first class average under 40 for mine. That leaves....Burns!
Matt
Roar Rookie
Or he could get adopted by Geoff Marsh - your form doesn't matter if your name is Marsh.
dan ced
Guest
Maddinson is the only one in that list that S.Marsh is ahead of.. I think Carters, Bancroft, Klinger, and Forrest should all be ahead of Marsh too
Shortfineleg
Guest
As an added bonus; Burns can catch, throw and field. If they are criteria actually considered by the NSP.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
No JGK, Burns made 760 runs at 58 in first-class cricket last summer.
Tom from Perth
Roar Rookie
How can Shaun Marsh possibly be behind Maddinson who's done nothing for the last two seasons?
Golden
Roar Rookie
haha!
Andrew
Guest
Yes, cheers slurpy. The only problem getting rid of Watson, concerning Steve Smith as a young Captain. Smith needs support with older and experience players, but, if Watson doesn't perform, it hurts Smith greatly. Not Clarkey....Clarke has a average 60+ as Captain.
Rellum
Roar Guru
Warner is going well Rodgers is out of form. Cowan will not be picked due to personality clashes if you believe the press. Smith is going well Burns is doing enough to put his name before the selectors but he isn't in the team and hasn't got enough runs to really demand selection. Hasn't played Test cricket so we have no idea if he will perform or not. Kawajha has just done his ACL M.Marsh is an all rounder who is chipping in with runs but hasn't really shown he can go big like a top six player should. S.Marsh is very inconsistent. Clarke may never play again. Watson doesn't score enough and is, like Clarke one injury away from the end. Ferguson record isn't fantastic over all. Form is good so he could come into the team, but again we have no idea if he can perform in Tests. Then there are guys like Carters who look very good but are not ready to be picked. Should I go on. Right now there are two players in the top six that we can rely on.
slurpy
Roar Rookie
i've never like watson as a test player. keep him in coloured clothes only.
slurpy
Roar Rookie
Really Rellum? Warner - Probably the premier opener over the past 12 months Rogers Cowan - most centuries this shield season Smith - probably Aus best batsman for the past 12 months Burns - averaging over 50 this shield season Kawajha - dominated matador cup, averaging a tick above 40 in first class cricket Atempted to pick on form - The only major issue i see is Rogers in need of a score. what changes would you advocate?
jamesb
Guest
Well said Chris. People still think there is a NSW bias, which is a complete furphy.
Ken
Guest
Starc is rubbish and Watson would have been sacked now if he wasn`t a blubagger..You surmise that Haddin is the best keeper when picked?? Probably was, debatable ( NOW) he isnt ?? GURU should not be your " nom de plume "
Andrew
Guest
Test selectors has an obsession with Watson, even though commented about that today in another cricket topic. Even the Ch 9 commentary team, they never say - give Watson the flick. They say Rogers needs a big score, not Watson.
Rellum
Roar Guru
I would be more concerned with the lack of batting in the top six rather than the level bowling.
slurpy
Roar Rookie
Yes your probably right about the need for another seamer in the top 6 - only room for Burns or Uzzie i guess not both also Usman has just done his knee and will be out for 6 months apparently - so there goes his chances. poor bloke. http://www.theherald.com.au/story/2770658/sydney-thunder-batsman-usman-khawaja-suffers-serious-knee-injury/?cs=12.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
Let's see, there are 5 state sides, so that's about 29 top 6 players I'd probably have ahead of Shaun Marsh for the Gabba test. Well, maybe not quite, there are plenty in there that wouldn't be ahead of him. But he's certainly behind Uzzie, Burns, Carters, Cowan, Lynn (even with no cricket for 6 months), Ferguson, Cooper, Patterson, Maddinson. Then Marsh might come after that lot. I've left Voges out because at 35 he might be worth selecting if you just want someone solid to fill in for a short period of time where you were more concerned about winning that match than looking long term at all, which probably doesn't count. So there you go, Marsh comes in at 10th in the first class batsmen who should have been considered for the Gabba test. Even more so since he's carrying an injury! P.S. The big issue with your batting lineup is the lack of much bowling ability in the top 6. The Gabba has seen a number of very high scoring matches, you really want a reasonable fifth bowling option in there, especially when you are packing in back-to-back-to-back tests like they are. So Mitch Marsh probably still gets the nod for #6 with Watson out.