Test opener Joe Burns demoted to Australia A squad
The Australian Test team’s opening batsman Joe Burns has paid the price for a forgettable Sri Lankan tour after being named in the Australia A squad that is set to take on India A in two four-day matches in Queensland next month. Cricket Australia’s chief selector Rodney Marsh, however, see it as an opportunity for Burns and hopes that his leadership qualities will come to the fore during the series after he was named as the skipper for the second match.
With scores of 0, 2, 3 and 29 in the first two Tests against Sri Lanka, Burns was dropped for the third and final Test against the hosts with the series already lost. Though coach Darren Lehmann said at the time that Burns should consider himself very unlucky, the Australian selectors feel a stringent move like this one was necessary to help Burns get back in touch.
"Joe Burns will join both matches to give him a further opportunity, and also have the chance to play a leadership role as vice-captain in the first match, then captain of the second," said national selector Rod Marsh.
Peter Handscomb will be the skipper for the first match with the 25-year-old a strong contender to be named in the Australian Test squad for their tour to India in 2016. He also scored a century in Australia A’s most recent four-day match against South Africa A earlier this month.
"Peter Handscomb proved himself in Australia A’s victory over South Africa A in the longer format and will benefit from having a further leadership role in the first match before returning to Victoria to refresh ahead of the domestic season," Marsh said.
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Promising paceman Jackson Bird, who was not picked for any of the Tests in Sri Lanka, despite picking up a five-wicket haul against New Zealand in the last of his five Tests, has been selected for the second match while a few other talented youngsters, who has impressed in the ongoing Quadrangular One-Day series featuring Australia A, Australia’s National Performance Squad, India A and South Africa, also have a chance to impress.
"We have seen some great performances from both Australia A and the National Performance Squad,” Marsh said. "David Moody and Hilton Cartwright were not previously named in the wider Australia A squad, but due to call-ups to the national side, they now have an opportunity to impress in the final matches of the series. "Travis (Dean) had a very impressive debut in the Sheffield Shield last season, and we are looking forward to seeing what he can produce.
"This is also a good opportunity for Jackson to get some match bowling under his belt prior to the domestic season,” he added. "The final two matches of the series provides us a good chance to view other upcoming talents that we firmly believe deserve their selection and have the potential to be next in line to play at a national level. "Those not named in these squads, who previously played in the four-day and one-day matches will now return to their states to allow for time to refresh ahead of the Matador Cup."
Australia A squad for the first match against India A (September 8): Peter Handscomb (c), Joe Burns (vc), Cameron Bancroft, Travis Dean, David Moody, Kane Richardson, Chadd Sayers, Marcus Stoinis, Mitch Swepson, Beau Webster, Sam Whiteman, Dan Worrall.
Australia A squad for the second match against India A (September 15): Joe Burns (c), Kurtis Patterson (vc), Jackson Bird, Hilton Cartwright, Travis Dean, Sam Heazlett, Jon Holland, David Moody, Kane Richardson, Chadd Sayers, Beau Webster, Sam Whiteman.