Despite scoring 180 in Australia’s last Test, opener Joe Burns yesterday had his Ashes hopes dented as he was denied a Cricket Australia contract and overlooked for the Australia A tour of England.
It shows he’s clearly behind Marcus Harris in the Test pecking order.
Harris, who laboured in Australia’s last Test series against Sri Lanka while Burns shone, was granted both a central contract and included in the A squad.
The 26-year-old Victorian is now the clear front runner to open the batting with returning star David Warner in the first Ashes Test on August 1.
Harris showed generous promise in his debut Test series this summer, consistently blunting the new ball against India’s powerful pace attack. He failed to build on that in his second series against the labouring Sri Lankans. But Harris then returned to the Sheffield Shield and completed one of the finest campaigns by a batsman in that competition in the past decade.
The left-hander finished with an incredible 1188 runs at 70, including a match-winning 141 in the low-scoring final. Combined with his reasonably solid start to his Test career, Harris would be a worthy selection in the Ashes.
Marcus Harris (Photo: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
But few Australian cricketers in the past decade have had harsher treatment from the selectors than Burns. It is remarkable that an opener who averages 40 after 16 Tests, with four tons already to his name, would be dumped immediately after scoring 180.
Further evidence that Burns is on the outer is the fact Harris is the only specialist opener in the Australia A first-class squad. Either Kurtis Patterson or Will Pucovski will need to play as a makeshift opener in the three first-class matches in England in July.
Chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns said his panel would monitor the performances of Burns in county cricket, with the Queenslander scheduled to soon start playing first-class matches for Lancashire.
Surely, though, if Burns was in strong contention for the Ashes, Australia A would have him in their XI instead of using a makeshift opener in a country where facing the new ball is a seriously tough task.
Test incumbent Marnus Labuschagne also missed out on the A squad, after a poor start to his Test career and a shocking Shield season.
The squad contains fellow Test incumbents Patterson, Tim Paine and Travis Head, as well as Test veteran Josh Hazlewood, who missed out on the World Cup squad as he returns from a serious back injury.
The other quicks in the squad are Michael Neser, James Pattinson, Jackson Bird and Chris Tremain.
Pattinson’s inclusion on the CA contract list, despite not having played for Australia in more than three years, is a strong sign that he is in line to play in the Ashes.
The fiery Victorian long ago convinced the selectors he is international standard. Unfortunately for Burns, he just can’t seem to leave the same impression.
James Pattinson bowls for Australia. (AAP Image/Paul Miller)
Cricket Australia central contract list: Pat Cummins, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Alex Carey, Aaron Finch, Usman Khawaja, Peter Handscomb, Marcus Harris, Travis Head, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon, Glenn Maxwell, Shaun Marsh, Tim Paine, James Pattinson, Jhye Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa.
Australia A one-day squad: Travis Head (c), Matthew Wade, Will Pucovski, Peter Handscomb, Ashton Turner, Mitch Marsh (vc), D’Arcy Short, Kurtis Patterson, Ashton Agar, Michael Neser, James Pattinson, Josh Hazlewood (vc), Kane Richardson, Sean Abbott
Australia A first-class squad: Tim Paine (c), Marcus Harris, Kurtis Patterson, Will Pucovski, Travis Head (vc), Peter Handscomb, Matthew Wade, Mitch Marsh, Michael Neser, Jon Holland, James Pattinson, Jackson Bird, Josh Hazlewood (vc), Chris Tremain
Keeper
Guest
The Joe burns saga may be one of the enduring mysteries of Australian cricket. By virtue of stats alone at international level Joe should be guaranteed of an opening spot. So, what's keeping him out? Maybe we should look elsewhere for the reasons . Does he play for the wrong team? Or does he have an addiction to zelda? Did he get too close to one of Langers daughters or perhaps he's commited the unforgivable sin of being a non- drinker and therefore failing the Sean marsh Test? Clearly he is the perpetual scapegoat going back to before langers time and I am convinced that there must be reasons other than cricket that keep him in such an insecure place in the pecking order.
jose
Roar Rookie
Aussie selectors did that to Brad Hodge in the past - dumped him after scoring a double 100 against South Africa. I wont be surprised if Joe Burns is dropped from the Ashes squad.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
“It is remarkable that an opener who averages 40 after 16 Tests, with four tons already to his name, would be dumped immediately after scoring 180.” Says everything. These selectors are so stupid, it’s unbelievable sometimes. He’s obviously got the technique too, unlike Harris who looks continually streaky against top line seam bowling. But Harris deserves his spot. How you could pick Patterson or Pucovski ahead of Burns, who could obviously also bat no.3 if needed, is beyond me. Burns didn’t have a great second half of the Shield season, but wasn’t helped by the Gabba wicket, where teams were regularly getting out for under 150. Patterson and Pucovski didn’t do much in the second half either.
U
Roar Rookie
You just know Burns will get shafted
matth
Roar Guru
Reminds me of how Starc’s first 10 or so tests were all singles. Never played 2 in s row
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
They're announcing the Ashes squad just 5 days before the 1st Test, after the 3rd Australia A match is finished (vs Australia).
MarkD
Guest
Gday Dave , Hohns should be straight up with Burns and the Australian public. He is just plain full of it. Given that Burns , the incumbent test opener who scored a 180 in his last test , is only going to be monitored in county cricket seems to suggest that he is well down the order for the ashes . To me It's obvious that he doesn't think Burns is up to test cricket other than just as a temporary replacement . Hohns has been a selector through Burns' entire stuttering test career of 16 tests. This is the same selector who has persisted with Mitch 'Oh the potential ' Marsh for 31 tests . Both Marsh and Burns debuted in late 2014 with Burns first test as a replacement for the injured Marsh, funny that! Is this a stat? Burns averages every 4 tests , a century , a half century and getting dropped !!
Rellum
Roar Guru
When are they announcing the ashes squad? If it is after the World Cup it would not shock me at all to see someone like Finch or Stoinis get a spot if they had a great World Cup.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Incredibly if Burns is now dropped as expected this will be the 5th time in his 16-Test career that he's been dropped. And to think how many people argue Ed Cowan never got a fair go - he was given 18 Tests on the trot from debut despite averaging 31!
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
If Australia make the semis of the World Cup then I don't think any of the ODI players will be involved in the first 2 Australia "A" games. The last game is Australia "A" vs Australia so every player at all in contention for the Ashes will get a go in that one.
Andy
Guest
Always the leading batsman in Qld on a tough shield wicket at the Gabba. Has always stepped up and dominated at test level. Every country would be jumping at an opener who makes hundreds and averages 40 in tests! I can only imagine what the poor bloke must be thinking thanks to the selectors. He seems like a tough one though, they will need him in the Ashes.
Dave
Guest
Did you bother reading Trevor Hohns comments?!? Burns not in A squad bc he's playing county cricket. I think he'll be backup batsman
The Bush
Roar Guru
Well if they're staying together, then three games is definitely enough time for players of the class of Warner and Smith to get into the groove.
Paul
Roar Guru
Sorry, I also forgot, I seem to recall CA saying they were going to keep some if not all the WC squad after the tournament, for the long form games, bar Zampa.
Paul
Roar Guru
I guess it depends a lot on the quality of the players and their ability to adapt to 5 day conditions, TB. I agree it's far from ideal to have guys coming into a Test with such a small amount if long form cricket, but these are two of the best batsmen we've had in the past 30 years. If there wasn't a World Cup then yes, it would be a disaster waiting to happen, but I have confidence they'll adapt quickly. Well..... maybe not confidence, lets say I'm hopeful!
Andre Leslie
Roar Guru
Pattinson’s inclusion on the CA contract list also surprised me. He hasn't played for Oz for years. I think trying to understand the A squads, the central contract lists, and then those players being monitored in County cricket is (with all respect) a waste of time. It's clear that they want to keep a bunch of options open as the Ashes series draws near... and they also want to have injury backup nearby for the CWC. I guess the World Cup squads can be added to when someone is deemed badly injured too.
Rob
Guest
Only in Australia would a batsman who has made 4 100's in 16 matches be dropped!
U
Roar Rookie
All 3 Marshes are destined to be good limited overs players but poor test ones
The Bush
Roar Guru
Interesting, I always thought the contract list was explicitly about what the future held, as opposed to any reflection of what people did in the past (hence why certain players have been dropped off of it before they even got dropped from the side - didn't this happen to Katich?). The 'emphasis' on it looking to the future is probably best demonstrated by the inclusion of Jimmy P, Smith, Warner and Harris.
The Bush
Roar Guru
Was he every really one? (sarcasm)