Pair vying for Test team vacancy

JOE Burns is in a head-tohead race with West Australian all-rounder Marcus Stoinis for a ticket to South Africa, with selectors set to keep the faith with out-of-form Test opener Cameron Bancroft.

With seemingly only one vacancy in the 15-man squad Australia will take to South Africa for the four-Test series in March, Queenslander Burns is jostling with Stoinis for the last seat on the plane.

If selectors are following the same pattern they did four years ago when they won in South Africa and take a back- up all-rounder, then Stoinis is the front runner. But the balance of this current squad may demand a batsman capable of covering the top order.

Burns has shown outstanding form this summer, has three centuries to his name at Test level and is capable of batting anywhere from 1-6.

Taking Burns as back-up would be an indication Bancroft is under some pressure, but coach Darren Lehmann has made it clear selectors will back the man they picked for a high-pressured debut for this Ashes series.

“We’ll make a decision on South Africa in a couple of weeks, but I’ve been impressed with the way he’s gone about it with Davey Warner,” Lehmann said.

“He would like bigger scores as you always would as a batsman, but some of our starts have been exceptional, especially early on in the series.

“For me you’ve got a young guy there learning his craft and he’s got a great work ethic, so for me moving forward … he’s a good young kid, works hard and we’re pretty happy with him.”