Joe Burns deserves to play in the first Test against South Africa next week after scoring a magnificent ton against a Test-strength NSW attack in the opening round of the Sheffield Shield.
With the first Test in Perth starting next Thursday, this first round of the Shield was particularly crucial for Burns.
The opening batsman lost his place in Sri Lanka after labouring against spin in the first two Tests. He was replaced by Shaun Marsh, who promptly reeled off a wonderful ton in Colombo.
Marsh’s fluency against spin should make him a lock for the upcoming four-Test tour of India. I would argue that this same horses-for-courses selection should earn Burns a recall against South Africa, at the expense of Marsh.
Unlike most Test batsman, Marsh has proven to be a significantly better batsman away from home. The stylish left-hander averages 46 from his nine Tests on the road, while struggling in his nine Tests in Australia, where he averages only 33.
It would be unfair on Marsh, I must admit. His recent form for Australia in Tests has been outstanding and he has played quite well against South Africa, with scores of 44, 0, 148, 44, 0 and 0 for a total of 236 runs at 39 from three Tests.
Burns and Marsh both have very strong cases to be selected to open with Warner. This is a fantastic situation for Australia. A few days ago I was leaning ever so slightly in favour of picking Burns.
Now my mind is made up after Cricket Australia’s live streaming let me to watch Burns compile a brilliant ton against a NSW attack featuring Australia’s three best Test bowlers – Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon – plus former Test players Trent Copeland and Moises Henriques.
What made Burns’ innings so special was how hard he had to scrap early on. NSW captain Steve Smith’s declaration meant Burns had to face a nightmare 13-over session under lights with the pink ball against Starc, Hazlewood and Lyon.
Starc found some late swing at express pace, while Hazlewood jagged the ball around off the seam and maintained his typically flawless line-and-length. Burns looked wonderfully compact, was very watchful and importantly, he regularly earned quick singles to stop those world-class bowlers from working him over. He looked like the consummate Test opener.
As I wrote recently, South Africa’s Test pace attack is one of the finest ever to tour Australia.
Burns lost his Test place because of his travails against tweakers on dry Asian pitches. He should earn it back due to his prowess against pace, which was evident against NSW and throughout last summer.
Across eight Tests last season, Burns averaged 53, including 500 runs at 56 against New Zealand’s capable pace attack.
In his most recent Test he helped earn Australia a 2-0 series win in New Zealand with a sensational double of 170 and 65. He built a good rapport with Warner last summer and that pair have the potential to open for Australia for the next four or five years.
Except that is, in India, where I would favour picking based on the conditions and select Shaun Marsh and Cameron Bancroft, form permitting, in the top three at the expense of Burns and Usman Khawaja.
Tanmoy kar
Guest
But the team has been announced and Joe Burns & Jackson Bird are not there in the team, what do you think about that?
Ches
Guest
Rubbish @Lee. There is a lot more going on in this team/squad that is being made public. There is a "high performance" issue here ... get it?
Ches
Guest
You are right about Nevill. Pick Peter Handscomb now or forget him forever. With nearly 60 first class games under his belt it is now or never and deserves a chance. Nevill is a good keeper but hardly inspiring with the bat. Ian Healy had a lot less 1st class experience before they gave him a chance.
dan ced
Guest
Dougie came in fresh and slayed QLD.. I think that's a bit unfair to be honest.
Peter
Roar Rookie
I know he's getting on and isn't the fittest bloke going around, but Bolly looks like he's bowling really quick and viciously in the Shield right now.
matth
Guest
Do the same to Marsh and see what you get. He has always been a feast or famine player, so to use that argument to elevate Marsh over Burns is flawed.
craig swanson
Guest
That is also what I am hearing. Mennie had a bumper 2015/16 Shield, Has been a solid performer for the Redbacks since making the move from NSW. So who is he in for? CA loves Siddle even though he has averaged something like 36 since 2014. My vote goes to Bird to partner Hazlewood and Starc.. with Mennie as 12th man.
craig swanson
Guest
Word is that Shaun Marsh has stolen Burns spot. I can not recall when Marsh looked comfortable opening in tests. Evidently he is averaging 40 ish in his last 10 tests. So I suppose he deserves a run on spot. But what has Burns done wrong on Aussie tracks.
Christov
Guest
Not arguing against your point but more you statistical analysis. If you take out all players scores over 50 then they would all have low averages. Take out 'stand out' games? Not really sure if you made the stats to suit your argument. Having said that I think that burns is actually good foil with Warner. Having a steady hand who can also score rapidly while in is good for him. What is their average partnership in terms of balls faced? Id imagine it would be around 10-15 overs which i would suggest is a good thing. Especially with out suspect middle order.
Paul Potter
Roar Guru
I’m starting to wonder if my memory’s playing tricks. I only ask because the last time I checked, Shaun Marsh and Steve Smith made centuries in Australia’s most recent Test opening the batting and at no. 3 respectively, and Joe Burns started his Test career at no. 6. Yet the odds of Marsh opening the batting, Smith batting at no. 3, and Burns at no. 6 are long indeed. Not without reason. Before the Sri Lankan tour, Joe Burns and Usman Khawaja had done well opening the batting and at no. 3. Marsh has shown greater ability to bat in a wider range of positions. But Australia’s selectors changed a bad thing to a good thing in the last Test in Sri Lanka. In switching the engine room from Warner-Marsh-Smith, Australia’s selectors aren’t changing something that’s not working. They’re changing something that is, for the resumption of a previous good thing.
Pope Paul VII
Guest
Joe Mennie named in the unnamed squad according to the SMH.
Rellum
Roar Guru
I would say this pitch has had no life in it at all to be honest. It is only come to like from 6-7 at night. You would have to ask the players if it is dew on the pitch, trouble picking up the pink ball in the changing light or even if the Pink ball reacts differently to the red ball it the changing conditions.
Rellum
Roar Guru
It demeans the comp, treats it like a joke.
Annoyedofit
Guest
You really don't pay attention do you Lee
Sideline
Guest
If it's used properly, I don't have a problem with it. But this does seem like NSW's plan all along.
Paul D
Roar Guru
Should have played both Marsh and Burns and dumped Voges.
Rellum
Roar Guru
Do not get me started on this substitution nonsense.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Ahh I didn't notice that Bollinger had been substituted in for Starc in the second innings of that match, he had a great Matador Cup did ol' Dougie, still a very good bowler.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
"surely Marsh’s form is irresistible also?!" Absolutely it is. I'll have no problem with Marsh being picked - I wasn't always a fan of him as a Test player but his first-class form the past two years or so has been sensational.
Pedro the Maroon
Guest
Didn't Ronan say just that? Let me actually add something - Marsh has the same weaknesses outside his off stump against pace that saw Phillip Hughes yo-yo in and out of the test line up. Against pace it's famine or feast for S Marsh. I remember last summer when there was talk of him playing instead of Burns and there were numerous Roar articles detailing Marsh's propensity for making many low low scores and then a ton. Was it something like 60% of his test innings were in single figures. Plus Marsh is 33. And he's a bad fieldsman. I say look to the future. Take Burns and Koala to the subcontinent as understudies. We want players who can master all conditions and all bowling. I submit Matt Hayden - a classic opener who flayed pace attacks - as the perfect example of someone who learned how to play in India. He was soundly dismissed by all and sundry of ever being able to perform on Indian decks. Burns and Uzzie have great footwork so they should be able to learn how to pick line and length against the slow bowlers. Hayden was of course different - he plomped his big pad miles down and swept and swept and swept as soon as he saw the line was anywhere near his leg stump - or the ball was short. Anyhow - give Marsh the India tour and then never pick him again.