Shane Warne finds fault with Joe Burns’ selection: The former Australian spinner criticized the hosts’ decision of sticking with Joe Burns.
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Former Australia spinner Shane Warne has advised Australia opening batsman Joe Burns to “enjoy himself” and “bat long” in the ongoing first Test against India in Adelaide. Burns, who has been struggling for runs of late, has received plentiful remarks around his batting at the top of the order.
“I think my advice would be simple, mate you don’t have to prove anything to anyone we know you can play. Go out, enjoy yourself, let the ball go, let them bowl to you, keep a smile on your face and bat long.
“Don’t worry about what might happen or what everyone is saying. That’s why [fellow opener] Matthew Wade is very important to walk out to bat. [Say to him] ‘Good shot’, run well between the wickets. I’m fascinated to see how he’s going to go against some class bowlers,” Warne said on Fox Cricket before the start of play on Day 1.
Shane Warne finds fault with Joe Burns’ selection for Adelaide Test
Warne, however, severely criticized Burns’ selection before giving him an advice on how to go about play despite coming on the back of a lean patch. Finding faults with the decision, the 51-year old legendary spinner spoke against picking Burns highlighting his paltry first-class average this season and doubt-generating dismissals.
“I wouldn’t have gone with him,” Warne said.
“I understand selectors showing consistency and faith. But look at the player. He doesn’t look like making a run. I think he’s averaging under seven this year in first-class cricket, so it’s not as though he’s had chances. He’s had eight innings, I wouldn’t have picked Burns.
“I don’t reckon there’ll be many fingernails left from the selectors and Justin Langer when he walks out to bat, I think they might chew them off. Just watching him, and you look at a couple of those dismissals, he’s falling over, chasing wide ones. An opening batsman has to let the ball go, know where his off stump is,” Warne added.
Burns, who had scored 256 runs at an average of 32 in five Tests last summer, is playing the ongoing day-night Test after scoring only 74 runs in his last 10 first-class innings which includes six single-digit scores. Having said that, the 31-year old player had received backing from Australia head coach Justin Langer and captain Tim Paine in the build-up to the first Test.
