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Joe Burns was very unlucky to miss Australia’s Test squad for the West Indies and England. Now his poor limited overs form looks set to see him overlooked for the upcoming Tests against New Zealand.
The Australian selectors clearly pay close attention to performances in 50-over cricket when making lineball Test selections and Burns will not get any first-class games to push his case before the Test squad is announced.
Just six weeks ago, Burns was assured of winning back his spot in the Test team. The retirements of Chis Rogers, Michael Clarke and Shane Watson, together with David Warner’s serious thumb injury, meant he was a lock to bat in the top three in the two Tests against Bangladesh.
The fact he was chosen to open for Australia in the five ODIs against England suggested he was highly regarded by the selectors. That gilt-edged opportunity may actually end up hindering Burns’ Test chances.
After starting that series brightly with a neat 44 in the first game, he scored just 33 runs from his following four innings which repeatedly gifting his wicket with loose strokes.
His struggles have continued in the domestic one-day Cup. Since the start of the ODI series in England, Burns has made only 180 runs at an average of 20 in List A cricket, including five single-digit scores from nine innings.
Meanwhile, two of his main rivals for a Test spot – WA pair Cameron Bancroft and Shaun Marsh – have been plundering State attacks.
There probably are just two top six spots up for grabs in the Test team. Warner is expected to be fit for the New Zealand series, Steve Smith is the first player picked, Mitch Marsh is expected to get further opportunities and Adam Voges seemed to save his spot with a spirited 76 in the final Ashes Test.
There seems to be four-way battle for those two top-six positions between Burns, Bancroft, Shaun Marsh and Usman Khawaja.
Right now, Burns probably has slipped to last in that race. Marsh is the leading runscorer in the One Day Cup with 380 runs at an average of 76.
He also has the major attributes of experience, in what will be a very raw Test batting line-up, and the flexibility to bat anywhere from one to six.
Long a favourite of the selectors, the left hander looks all but certain of lining up at the Gabba against the Kiwis.
Bancroft was well behind Burns in the pecking order just three months ago. Then he was the standout batsmen from either side in the two unofficial Tests between Australia A and India A, vaulting him into Test calculations.
Now, as Burns has floundered in coloured clothing, Bancroft has flourished, cracking 335 runs at 67.
The young West Australian has timed his run perfectly. Khawaja, meanwhile, has been out injured, yet is continually being mentioned by mainstream cricket reporters as a very strong prospect for the first Test, suggesting that the selectors clearly are leaning towards him.
With Queensland out of the running for the finals, Burns has just two more matches to grab the attention of the selectors.
Despite having averaged 50 with the bat over the past two Sheffield Shield seasons, Burns has lost form at precisely the wrong moment. Don’t expect to see him donning the baggy green against New Zealand.