Joe Burns and Travis Head must surely have cemented their Ashes spots by rescuing Australia with a pair of big tons on day one of the second Test against Sri Lanka in Canberra yesterday.
Granted, Sri Lanka fielded a greatly inexperienced attack and the Manuka Oval pitch proved great for batting, but there was no denying the tremendous skill and application showcased by Burns (172*) and Head (161).
That pair came together with Australia in peril at 3/28, with the Sri Lankan quicks getting appreciable movement both through the air and off the pitch. Marcus Harris (11) and Usman Khawaja (0) had both departed due to awfully-lazy shots, while Marnus Labuschagne (6) had nicked a nice outswinger from debutant Chamika Karunaratne.
Between them, Sri Lanka’s pace trio had played a total of five Tests leading into this match and it showed, as they were unable to maintain the pressure they built in the first hour.
Burns and Head gradually halted Sri Lanka’s charge before swinging the momentum violently in Australia’s favour after lunch. With 604 runs at an average of 46 in his first eight Tests, Head has surely done enough to cement his spot for Australia’s next match, the first Ashes Test in Birmingham starting on August 1.
It would be folly if Burns was dropped immediately after scoring a massive ton. Regardless of the circumstances yesterday, this is an opener with 1,106 runs at 42 in Tests, including four tons from just 16 matches. Burns should be a frontrunner for the Ashes.
The 29-year-old underlined yesterday that he has not just the ability but also the temperament to flourish at the highest level. In the first hour, when the ball was moving around, Burns played within himself, grinding 16 from 38 balls as he focused on playing straight.
Although he loves to cut and pull, it wasn’t until he passed 30 that the Queenslander allowed himself to start playing square of the wicket with regularity. On 34, Burns tried to cut an off break from Dilruwan Perera and offered the most difficult of chances to first slip Dhananjaya de Silva, who barely got a hand on the ball.
That was one of the rare mistakes Burns made while batting for an entire day, something very few Australian batsmen have done in the past decade.
Burns is not a readymade Test star – he is not likely to start bossing international cricket and leaving opposition attacks in fear like his expected Ashes opening partner David Warner. But he is a vastly-experienced batsman in the prime of his career who knows his own game inside out.
For example, Burns is more adept against pace than spin and so yesterday he made a point of not getting overly-aggressive against the Sri Lankan tweakers and instead taking on their quicks. Smart strategies like this – the acknowledgment of one’s strengths and limitations – are the basis of many very good knocks.
That’s what this was, a very good knock, regardless of the efforts of so many joyless fans to minimise Burns’ achievement. The reality is that it is not an easy thing to bat for a full day against a bowling attack of international cricketers. Particularly when you are batting with the knowledge this may be your last chance for a long while to cement a Test spot.
Meanwhile, Head continued his golden summer, during which he has churned out 482 runs at 54 from nine innings. In the UAE against Pakistan and at home against a rampant Indian attack, Head played several mature and important innings. But he never went on to make a big score, and also wasted a series of starts by scoring 20s and 30s.
So, while the signs were good, Head was yet to really make his mark in Tests. The hard graft he did in difficult circumstances in his first two series set him up to cash in once the going got much easier in this series. He entered Test cricket with major question marks about his ability to play spin yet, so far, he has handled the tweakers nicely in all three of his series.
Travis should be Head-ed to England. (AP Photo/James Elsby)
He’s also looked good against pace except, that is, when he’s slashed at balls wide outside off stump, which is his single biggest weakness. Head got a let off in the 80s yesterday playing just that shot, but made it count by storming to a huge ton. In the process he surely locked down a middle order berth for the Ashes.
Warner, Steve Smith, Head and Burns deserve to be all but assured of being in the starting XI in England. Khawaja, Harris and Labuschagne may not get to bat again in this Test to press their cases. But Kurtis Patterson (25*) has a gilded chance today to push on with Burns and crack the kind of big score that will make it hard for the selectors to overlook him for the Ashes.
terrykidd
Roar Pro
I think these 2 tests have cleared the murky water. A long shot prediction but I see the Ashes squad as: Batsmen - Smith, Warner, Burns, Khwaja, Head (vc), Patterson, Pucovski, Handscombe (also back up keeper) Bowlers - Starc, Cummins, Lyon, Hazelwood, Richardson, Tremain, plus another spinner who could be anyone Wicketkeeper - Paine (c) I have deliberately left blank a couple of spots for late season form, smokies etc.
Barney
Roar Rookie
I knew he was right on the prodigy thing, but only that very minor detail... but it’s Don...easy and fun to rankle
Kieran Kirk
Roar Rookie
I was at the ground watching Burns and Head rollick along. Very happy to see Burns score runs and would love to see him at the Ashes. I feel leaving Harris out as he has been solid but I think Burns' case was too strong. His advantage of being able to pull the ball well is something we've lacked in recent months.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
If you have a team with just four main bowlers, that should be enough in most matches where it's not going to be high scoring, long innings. ie Greentops you don't need the extra bowler. But you will be using all four bowlers in that first session, and if those four include a spinner then the spinner will be bowling in that first session, even on a greentop. Nothing wrong with that.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
Barney, Don is right on this one. A prodigy is the young kid who has dominated every level as they've come up through the youth ranks and looks set to be a star. Once they become the star they are no longer a prodigy. Many prodigies don't make it. I remember when people were calling on Doran to be in the test squad before he'd even played a first class match, saying he was going to be this amazing player. So far he's struggled to convert that when stepping up to playing with the men. Jury is still out. So far Pucovski has already played a couple of innings in first class cricket to suggest he's a good chance of making the step from prodigy to outright star. But obviously, he's not there yet.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
I was actually thinking that, with his issues, it might have been good for him. It means that he can be around the Aussie team in a reasonably relaxed way, without the pressure of playing his first test. Getting to know people, learning from the test players and coaches and the like, and the ability to head home the moment he feels the need.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
I saw something interesting noting that Paine's current test average is actually the second best batting average by an Australian keeper in test cricket. Interesting how massive a drop back from Gilly at 47, down to Paine it is. And Paine doesn't look likely to break the game apart with a big hundred, he keeps his average up by being consistent and not failing that often.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
I think Warner is pretty safe from being kept out by either of these two. They are fighting to see who can provide the best partner for Warner, but Warner is still miles better than either of these two. However, it’s quite likely at this point that both would be on the plane to England. One to be in the team and the other as the backup. Harris has shown some pretty annoying signs this summer, regularly throwing his wicket away after making starts. I had thought, and said a few times, that it would likely be Burns who’d be straight back out and Harris who would partner Warner in England. But that may well not be the case, just as much for the ways Harris failed in this test, and the way even in his “successful” innings he’s not managed to really push on with it to make the big scores.
PETER Warrington
Guest
and, just like last season, Ussie waits until the very last moment to display his unparalleled talent. maybe he is just a good team player who likes to give others a chance to shine. or, he is Shaun MArsh in disguise.
Bearfax
Roar Guru
This argument comes around every time Khawaja goes through a dry period, which might I add most players go through. There have been times when Khawaja has been the best batsman in the side, scoring heavily over an extended period. He's much better than Shaun Marsh and the players who are presently facing Sri Lanka have for the most part much poorer first class averages. This Sri Lanka bowling attack is below Shield level. That's why these guys are so successful. As I said, get past 10 and you're likely to score 100. This is not a good means of assessing the value of these players. I doubt we would have seen anything like this against India Khawaja just scored another century, his 8th in 40 tests and averages near 44 in first class and 43 in test cricket. Only Warner and Smith have superior averages. He is the proven third best batsman in Australia at this time
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Cloudy in Perth and raining in Qld...symbolic of the two teams misnomers.
Matt H
Roar Guru
True, it was the battle of the hopeless- Heat and Scorchers.
savant
Roar Rookie
Good point about Burns batting through a whole day Ronan. Its been a while since I've seen that. He looked like he was really struggling for the last half hour but made a real effort. I thought he looked mentally tired the next day. I doubt anyone is truly safe for England as we now have a lot of batters with claims. The remaining shield games will be important. If Burns has a poor average I can see him struggling to hold his spot in the test side. One thing I noticed about him he needs to really work on because the English will have picked it up. 3 out 4 of his dismissals against Sri Lanka (incl tour game) have been to a ball of the same length on a 4th or 5th stump line. The ball pitched roughly on the line between short and good length. Too short to drive too full to cut. He stayed in his crease and tried to paddle cut each of these balls, getting caught in the slips twice and playing on once. He needs to practice leaving these balls.
Peter Warrington
Guest
how many tests are you willing to risk to get just one guy back in form? my jury is out on him. he got huge runs against very weak teams. at home. had a shocker in Sri Lanka but they kept him for home and he finally delivered at Adelaide (when the series was gone) yet they dropped him for India and Bangladesh. and still bought him in for the home Ashes. in which he was poor until it was all over. and then was poor in Sa. and was brilliant in SA and was then poor again this summer. and now has just dropped a sitter. it seems to me his continued selection depends on big home runs. particularly in a summer like this when the best bats are out. and now he has dropped a sitter. England have his number, especially over there. I wouldn't risk a spot on him.
Peter Warrington
Guest
however he could be called to explain yesterday's 39 strike rate. wtf was that about?
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
The way my Scorchers are going, John Howard could have bowled 4 maidens with his Matt Renshaw impersonation.
Dan
Guest
Surely based on the last 3 years Khawaja deserves to be selected. It was only in the last tour to UAE that he batted to secure a draw, as well as his 70 in Perth that top-scored and secured a win. Short memories. Imagine how many batsmen of the past would have been dropped for one bad summer. I agree that he's in terrible form at the moment but the selectors and the public should be backing him. He was treated appallingly by the selectors early in his career, I think he deserves to be picked for the ashes, but shield form will count.
Matt H
Roar Guru
But they don’t turn. Maybe we can agree on slow straight ones.
Peter Warrington
Guest
Be fascinating to see who makes the World Cup squad, and who the Aust A. And who gets some reasonable time in in County. Not sure why they name a squad in those circumstances, just call in the 6 batsman on a test by test basis. Let everyone not in the XI keep playing so they are cherry ripe if needed.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Slow offies.