A big winter spent refining his game in the contrasting conditions of India and England has hopeful Australian opener Joe Burns confident of a Test recall.
Burns enjoyed a solid debut series against India last summer, averaging 36.50 across two Tests while scoring a pair of half-centuries at the SCG, before being jumped in the pecking order by veteran Adam Voges, who was selected to feature in the West Indies series and then the Ashes.
However, the twin retirements of captain Michael Clarke and opener Chris Rogers have opened the door for Australia’s fringe Test batsmen to force their way back.
None is better placed than Burns, after a strong 69 in his one-day international debut in Thursday’s victory over Ireland in Belfast.
The 25-year-old has been busy – first playing county cricket for Middlesex as he faced the same tricky England conditions which torpedoed Australia’s Ashes campaign, and then featuring in an the Australia A tour in India.
It is the latter tour, where he scored a fine 154 against South Africa A in Chennai while acclimatising to sub-continental conditions, which should hold him in good stead when selectors sit down to discuss who will make the cut for October’s two-Test series against Bangladesh.
For Burns, it all added up as a crucial learning experience.
“Just experiencing foreign conditions and learning how to adapt your game, learning about how to go about it in different conditions,” Burns said.
“Despite if you make runs or don’t make runs, the experience of playing cricket in different countries and seeing how different countries go about it (is valuable).
“Learning how there’s more than one way to skin a cat.
“But also learning how if you execute the things you do well, you can still have success.
“The last few months has been fantastic for me personally.
“I’ve learned so much, and I’m just looking to hopefully execute the lessons I’ve learned in the last few months over the next few months.”
The Queenslander, batting at six in his Test career to date, has formed a powerful combination with David Warner at the top of the order on his ODI debut.
He has been mooted as Rogers’ natural successor, and can get the early jump on rising star Cameron Bancroft with a string of good scores in the upcoming five-match ODI series against England.
Bancroft has an undeniably bright future but just 24 first-class matches to his name to date.
Burns’ steady temperament and sound technique are well suited to opening the batting, however he insists he isn’t concerned about where in the order he fits in.
“For Queensland, I’ve had consistent performances over the last two years as an opening batter,” he explained.
“But it depends on who else is selected in the side. Whatever my role is, I just need to perform it the best I can.”
jammel
Guest
Haha Slim - you jest surely? Watto at five in Tests lol
jammel
Guest
Yep, I wouldn't drop Voges at all. We need his experience in the middle order. I'd go Warner + Burns to open, Khawaja at #3 - I've always liked the idea of Khawaja at three - and then Smith at four and Voges at five.
Andrew
Guest
I would prefer Khawaja at opener and burns at 3
Andrew
Guest
Khawaja has batted mostlu at 3 and as we saw with langer number 3s make very good openers. Also he is a full time opener in one day cricket and is the best at it at domestic cricket
Bert
Roar Rookie
Thanks PPV. I didn't think he'd opened too often in FC games. Going back through his FC career I'd actually forgotten that he first played for NSW. Memory is waning with age. .
Slim
Guest
Looks to me that Burns will open, Usman to three and Watto to five baby!! Must have another ashes in him surely.
Pope Paul VII
Guest
The answer is not that often Bert, or not at all in FC. I think his thinking was put his credentials up for Rogers possie, not anticipating the implosion that brought on Clarkey's retirement and the general debacle in the middle order. Doesn't matter particularly now with 2 to 4 spots opening up. Voges will prob stay, while M Marsh will get a good run or at least never be far away for the forseeable future.
Bert
Roar Rookie
Cheers Amith They are good numbers. But I was actually enquiring as to how often he had filled the opening role in FC/Shield cricket. As I posted earlier he may be competing with others for Clarkes vacant 4/5 position rather than the vacant openers spot Personally I think Burns and Bancroft are the favourites to fill Rogers spot.
Andy
Guest
Good summary Amith
Amith
Guest
Bert prior to his injury he averaged 70+ in the matador cup and was the clear standout run scorer there. He got injured straight after the matador cup and was robbed of a shield season. Prior to that season he averaged 50 in that shield season so good numbers there too. And of course we know that he was the leading scorer in the Aus A tour along with Burns.
Amith
Guest
I like Marsh and think he can be a good batsman too, but the fact is that at any one time khawaja got 1-2 games max at a time. Arthur completely ruined his confidence and looking forward to seeing him fire this summer as he is in great form.
Bert
Guest
Can someone enlighten me as to where Khawaja was batting (FC) prior to his injury. I can't see him competing for Rogers vacant openers spot it would have to be Clarke's. .
QuitWhinging
Guest
Remind us all what series Khawaja last played and how he went. Khawaja has had his opportunities.
Amith
Guest
I wouldn't drop Vogues
Amith
Guest
Well said Vivgilchrist, time to give Khawaja a chance. Also we need to give more variety on our shield pitches. The primary reason SA win so many away games is because of the variety of pitches in SA. The pitches are also almost always prepared to provide a balance between the disciplines. Workload does have it's impact, but of greater import is the actual play on different types of pitches that gives SA players the edge when competing abroad.
Amith
Guest
But Marsh failed in the ashes, and has had many opportunities in the test team
VivGilchrist
Guest
If they can keep going back to S.Marsh despite all his failures, surely they can give Usman an extended go.., but if he scores one century and then an extended string of scores under 3 contributing in middle order collapses he should get dropped like S.Marsh.
QuitWhinging
Guest
And Shaun Marsh averaged 70 at shield season. He'll come back score no runs and people like you will whinge he's been hard done by by the management like last time
Gordon smith
Guest
Why would you drop Voges who is averaging over 40 in 7 tests
Pope Paul vii
Guest
He's very comfortable against quicks. He fell mostly to spin against old England. Anyway we'll see what happens.