Burns hungry to achieve more
Test opener Joe Burns expects tough lessons learnt on green English wickets will serve him in good stead for next month’s tour of New Zealand.
Joe Burns and Usman Khawaja cross paths as they charge towards centuries against the West Indies at the MCG. Photo: Tracey Nearmy, AAP.
The 26-year-old Queenslander has consolidated a spot in the Australian team by playing all six of this season’s domestic Tests against New Zealand and West Indies.
He scored one century against each team and looks to have done enough to secure a plane ticket and tour spot for the upcoming return series against the Black Caps.
That would give him a chance to play his first overseas Tests after averaging 43 from eight matches on home grounds.
Burns isn’t fussed that there are no tour matches in New Zealand prior to the two-Test series to allow for adjusting to conditions where the ball is likely to move more than on Australian decks.
“I’ve had a lot of experience opening the batting in England in county cricket,” Burns said.
“I think falling back on that experience is going to be crucial.
“[My Test opening partner] David Warner talked a lot about the lessons he learnt from England in the recently gone Ashes.
“It’s going to be a really tough series [in New Zealand], but it’s exciting and these sorts of challenges, when you’re playing away from home, are what I’m really looking forward to.”
Burns learnt first hand in the last English summer just how tough it can be in conditions where the ball jags around.
Sometimes opening the batting for Middlesex alongside Australian-born England batsman Sam Robson, Burns averaged a modest 29 across seven matches, notching three fifties and no hundreds.
“Opening the batting on some really green wickets at times when you’re there for a short period, you’re output can be impacted so heavily by the weather,” Burns said.
“I guess in some respects, it was almost the best experience you could have asked for.
“We had some really tough batting conditions. I’m really satisfied with all the lessons I’ve taken from that and look to continually improve and implement the things I learnt, going forward.”
With the 2015-16 domestic Test schedule completed, Burns has finally had time to appreciate his recent achievements.
Among them was a century in his comeback Test against New Zealand on his Gabba home ground, and a Boxing Day ton against West Indies at the MCG.
“Some special things have happened over the last few months and it leaves you very hungry to achieve more,” Burns said.
“For me, the biggest thing is to try and be a part of the No.1 Test team in the world.”
-AAP
