Bulls openers push for higher honours
MATT Renshaw and Joe Burns are Bulls at a gate, with an old-fashioned “bat off” to decide who dusts off their baggy green at the Gabba next week.
Renshaw and Burns will open for the Cricket Australia XI in a three-day pink ball tour match against Sri Lanka in Hobart from today.
The match will be the Queensland duo’s final chance to impress national selectors ahead of next week’s Sri Lanka day-night Test at the Gabba.
Renshaw and Burns were recalled to the Test squad following Australia’s 2-1 series loss to India in the BorderGavaskar Trophy.
Incumbent Test opener Marcus Harris appears certain to retain his spot after averaging 36.85 in his debut series, however his partner Aaron Finch has been axed.
With one spot available, the Queenslanders will have to do their best to impress.
“I’m not sure about ‘bat off’, it’s time to spend time in the middle,” Burns said.
“It’s a big Test series coming up so it’s time to face that pink ball and get exposed to the Sri Lankan bowlers.
“I’ve never seen myself competing with ‘Renners’. It’s been about how we can get the job done for Queensland.
“The fact we’re working together day-in, day-out and prepare together doing the same role … you’re just happy to see your teammates going well.
“Hopefully we can both get the opportunity. I’m not sure what the final make-up of the team is.”
There is a chance Burns and Renshaw could both feature in the Test team, however that appears unlikely.
Burns, 29, will captain the CA XI after strong form in the first half of the Sheffield Shield season.
The 14-Test representative has averaged 47.20 in the Shield this summer and an excellent 66.25 on the seaming Gabba wicket.
Renshaw, 22, is only averaging 19.9 after five matches in the 2018-19 Shield and 32 at the Gabba in four innings.
Burns appears ahead in the pecking order and admitted performances in Hobart would count ahead of the Sri Lanka series.
“The nature of the squad suggests that’s probably the case,” he said. “Your performance as an individual is always under the microscope when you play these games.
“I haven’t thought about it (selection) too much. The schedule is so packed you don’t have the chance to sit back and think about how you’re going.
“It’s nice to be recognised for the performances in Shield cricket and to get named in the squad from there.”
IT’S NICE TO BE RECOGNISED FOR THE PERFORMANCES IN SHIELD CRICKET AND TO GET NAMED IN THE SQUAD