Rory set for Test of nerve
from DEAN WILSON in Colombo
RORY BURNS reckons he has the mental toughness to survive in Test cricket as he prepares for his technique to get picked apart.
The England new boy has a quirky style when he bats with his chin rubbing against his right shoulder as he takes his stance before crouching and getting ready to play.
It’s all part of the Surrey opener’s routine and he won’t change anything now after winning a call-up to face Sri Lanka in next month’s Test series.
Burns, set to play in the two-day warm-up against a Sri Lanka Board XI starting tomorrow, said: “I think the scrutiny already has begun.
“It might get commented upon but it’s not going to change.
“It’s just one of my nuances. It’s a rhythm thing. I’ve explained it a few times about how I’m left eye dominant. It’s just a feel thing for me as I get prepared to face the ball.
Belief
“I am expecting a certain level of media scrutiny but I’ll just try to stay strong between my ears and go about my business as I have for Surrey.
“Probably the weight of runs I’ve scored in county cricket will help me do that as I’ve got that little bit of self-belief.”
Burns is stepping into Alastair Cook’s giant shoes following his retirement.
The 28-year-old says his year as captain of Surrey will help him with the transition to Test cricket.
He added: “I think the captaincy this year has let me see cricket in a slightly different light.
“It’s helped me relax a little bit in myself in terms of just taking it as it is.”
Burns reckons advice he received from Sri Lankan legend Kumar Sangakkara, his former team-mate at The Oval, will also stand him in good stead.
He added: “You couldn’t help but learn from watching him at Surrey. The amount of balls he hit, how he hit, what he was trying to do, he imparted a lot of wisdom, and he knows these conditions well.”
England head into the Test series on a high after Eoin Morgan’s white-ball stars won Saturday’s one-off T20 victory over Sri Lanka by 30 runs.
Joe Denly, who is vying to start in the first Test on November 6, was named man-of-the-match.
The victory in Colombo followed up England’s 3-1 win in the ODI series.