Burns fails to gain maximum reward for his patience in encouraging start
RORY BURNS was disappointed not to kick on from his half-century for England on the opening day of the first Test in New Zealand.
The opener rode his luck to record a streaky 52 as England’s top order followed captain Joe Root’s call for a more patient approach to avoid the collapses of recent years.
Burns was one of three batsmen to pass 50 in Mount Maunganui as England closed on 241 for four, a total swelled by some belligerence from Joe Denly (74) and Ben Stokes (67 not out) towards the end of the day. ‘I sort of ebbed and flowed,’ said Surrey captain Burns. ‘There were bits where I had some rhythm, there were bits where I was scrapping away and couldn’t really find it.
‘It was slightly indifferent but I managed to scrap my way to a score and in the end was disappointed that it wasn’t a bigger score.
‘Our run-rate was hovering just over two for most of the day until Stokesy got a few away there at the end. They’ve bowled very well but I feel we’ve set up the game in a way where we’re looking at establishing ourselves in this first innings.’
Burns would have been out for ten had New Zealand queried a caughtbehind appeal, with Hot Spot detecting a faint edge. ‘I thought I missed it by a country mile but apparently I didn’t,’ he said.
The 29-year-old was also reprieved on 37 after being rapped on the back pad by Trent Boult but was finally out to Colin De Grandhomme.
Opening partner Dom Sibley made a patient 22 on debut before he was removed by De Grandhomme.