Rory to step out from the shadows

RORY Burns is happy to be back with England following his spell of paternity leave as the opener revealed he is shadow batting in his hotel room in preparation for the Test series against India.

Burns was absent for the 2-0 win in Sri Lanka following the birth of his first child Cora, but has linked up with his England team-mates in Chennai, where the first two Tests in the four-match series are being held.

Everyone in the touring camp is in quarantine so Burns is passing the time by diving into a psychology course he has recently begun as well as watching himself go through his batting motions in his mirror.

Steve Smith was filmed practicing his strokes in his Test whites recently and Burns is copying the strategy in lieu of being able to go to the nets - although he insists he is not donning his full kit to do so.

“The break and refreshment and new perspective that fatherhood brings has just been a nice bit of time to have at home and spend with the wife,” said the Surrey captain.

“It was obviously tough leaving my newborn daughter and wife at home but it’s part and parcel of the job and I appreciate that. I’m just looking forward to getting going and getting back into work.

“I’m hungry to get going. I’m shadow batting in a mirror behind me, I’ve not gone full Steve Smith and put my whites on yet!

“But having the bat in hand and training and those sort of things.”