England’s Burns bounces back
Batsman is target of quicks
RORY BURNS’ reward for missing the Test series triumph in Sri Lanka is to be the sole target peppered by two of England’s quickest bowlers in India.
Jofra Archer and Ben Stokes also missed those two games after being rested and Burns finds himself on the same quarantine schedule as them.
The Surrey batsman opted to stay at home and give up his spot as opener.
The birth of his daughter Cora was a pretty
good reason but it means he has now missed each of the past five away Tests – all victories – and could do with re-establishing his credentials as Dom Sibley’s first-choice partner.
“It is a strange feeling to give up your spot,” said Burns, who has played in 21 Tests since his debut in Sri Lanka in 2018. “But I think if you’re going to miss cricket for anything then the birth of your first child is one thing you would do it for. It is a double-edged sword, but
I wouldn’t have changed my decision at any stage and I got to see my wife do something pretty impressive, so I was happy with that.
“I don’t know if I will come straight back in, it is probably not a decision for me. I’m just looking forward to getting back to work and back in the nets.
“Me, Jof and Stokesy are getting a slight head-start because we get out of quarantine first, so I’m looking forward to having a couple of tasty net sessions with those two firing in at me.
“I can’t wait to get going. I’ve been shadow-batting in the mirror. I’ve not gone full Steve Smith and whited up yet, but just having the bat in hand and training, I’m hungry to get going.”
Left-hander Burns should expect to be given the first chance of opening alongside Sibley, left, with Zak Crawley moving back to No3 and Jonny Bairstow back at home.
But after his breakthrough year in 2019 when he scored two hundreds, 2020 was less fruitful, initially due to injury but also due to a summer in bubbles he did not particularly enjoy.
There is relief that the bubble in India does not involve looking out over the field from the bedroom window, while he has also started a course in psychology that could yet come in handy.
“It certainly gets your mind away from cricket, so I don’t just sit there and stew about the game completely,” he added.
“Last year was a bit stop-start, not just for me but for everybody, and if 2020 wasn’t humbling for people I don’t know what is.
“Watching from afar it has been good to see the boys winning, and now I just want to get back in amongst it.”