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Great opportunity to play senior role in 1st Test with Warner injury: Joe Burns

YB WEB DESK. Dated: 12/4/2020 11:03:17 AM

Sydney, Dec 3 India is in Australia for a full-fledged cricketing tour of 3 ODIs, the series that was recently won 2-1 by Australia, followed by as many T20Is and 4 Tests. The Test series will start on December 17 and injured David Warner, who will miss the T20Is, could also miss the 1st Test. While the chase for the 2nd opener spot between Joe Burns and Will Pucovski has been the talk of this Australian summer, the 1st Test could see both these batsmen opening for Australia in absence of Warner. The 31-year-old Burns, who has been Warner’s partner in several seasons, is eyeing a senior role as Warner could miss the 1st Test. "I think Dave is such a world-class player, it's a nice luxury to have him at the other end. At the same time, I've always said I'll try and take as much responsibility in myself as well. I always talk about the games that Dave got out early, I always wanted to perform in those games,” Burns told reporters on Thursday (December 3). "In particular now that he's out injured, it's a great opportunity to play a senior role. In saying that, nothing changes drastically. It's about working with whoever you're batting with at the time and making sure you're executing your skills as best as possible. It's a huge role to fill if Dave is not available, it's probably the responsibility of a few guys to step into that position." Before the start of the 4- match Test series, the visiting Indian side is scheduled to play a couple of 3- day tour games, the 2nd game being a Day/Night fixture, against Australia A. Burns has said that the tours games will be the hosts’ preparations to keep India on the back foot so that Australia land the first punch. “The focus is always about trying to win games and starting this week with Australia A, it’s about getting our preparations.