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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.