Cricket: Joe Burns can look to Matthew Hayden’s career to keep his Australian test spot

Dropped after scoring 180, but now likely retained after a string of single figure scores. It’s been a bizarre Test journey for Joe Burns, writes Robert Craddock.

Joe Burns has slumped to scores of 4, 0, 0 and 1 to compound his Sheffield Shield failures in what was one of the worst lead-ins to a Test series in recent history.

Joe Burns take heart. History insists it’s possible to score a Test century at the Adelaide Oval even if you can barely breathe.

Matthew Hayden did it and to this day is not sure how. His deeds can only inspire Burns, whose bizarre journey has seen him dropped after scoring 180 but now probably retained after averaging single figures in lead-up games this summer.

Crazy game? Go figure.

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Joe Burns is under pressure to keep his spot, after a string of poor scores in the lead up to the Australia-India Test series. Picture: Getty Images

If Burns is feeling dry in the mouth, sweaty palmed and perhaps a little sleep-deprived before he gets the chance to salvage his Test career against India, he should not feel his battle is lost because bigger names have felt worse. And somehow got the job done.

Just as Burns has averaged 6.89 from nine first class innings this summer Hayden walked to the wicket with a Test batting average of 6.25 in his third Test against West Indies here a quarter of a century ago carrying the depressing thought failure would probably spell the end of his career.

No-one knew it at the time but the stress of it all, which Hayden kept well-hidden until his career-end autobiography, almost broke him before he managed a career-reviving century he rated one of his most underrated achievements.

Before the game Hayden became so agitated he went to a nearby hotel offering guided meditation classes, drifted into a trance-like sleep before breaking out in a sweat and immediately leaving.

Joe Burns has averaged 6.89 runs in his last nine first class innings. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Matthew Hayden found himself in a similar position once, when he averaged 6.25 runs heading into his third Test.

“My nerves were shot,” Hayden conceded.

“As the Test approached I started to seriously stress out.

“I remember a recurring dream in which I was batting in the nets when a wicket fell and I rushed to the dressing room to get a protector.

“Unable to find one, I hurried to the boundary, only to learn I’d been timed out for being late.

“Then I would wake up in fright, sit bolt upright and declare, ‘This is absolutely ridiculous.’ For a while I would relax, but the cycle of gloom would start again. I would be consumed by anguish, then get angry at myself for being that way.

“I’m not the first player to be haunted by life on the edge of selection, and I won’t be the last, but I can tell you this — it’s a miserable part of cricket life.”

If, as expected, Australia plumps for Burns on Thursday, it will balance the books for the one big call they made against him when he was left out of last year’s Ashes tour after a last-start Test 180 to allow the battling Cameron Bancroft to return.

Burns looked chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns in the eye in a one-one-one meeting and said “Cracker, ‘mate, tell me if I am in because I am so nervous’. He (Hohns) said, ‘unfortunately you are not selected’.

Neither man enjoyed the moment. Burns said he felt sorry for the selectors which only made them feel worse.

LANGER GAMBLES ON LOYALTY CARD

—Ben Horne

Justin Langer could find himself in the gun over his unwavering support of the struggling Joe Burns, but he’s also proved he stands for something as a coach.

Since Langer publicly backed in Burns as his first-choice opener, the Queenslander slumped to scores of 4, 0, 0 and 1 to compound his earlier Sheffield Shield failures in what was one of the worst lead-ins to a Test series in recent history.

But even at the risk of a fierce public backlash and despite warnings from several ex-greats to cut Burns loose, Langer has shown his mettle by boldly supporting team values above all else.

The punt on Burns might prove a failure, but Langer’s display of loyalty could instil a sense of trust in the dressing room that is worth its weight of gold in the long-run.

Justin Langer could find himself under pressure if he continues to stand by Joe Burns. Picture: Getty Images

Adam Gilchrist says the unseen tapestry that defines a team culture is a precious thing that can be destabilised by acts like devaluing the importance of incumbency.

“It’s so precious and valuable to a playing group and the environment that you’re living in and working in and sharing with everyone around that team set-up, it can really affect the whole mood,” Gilchrist said last week.

“If there’s a strong message of trust and consistency with honest selection, it can really build nice momentum and I know Justin values that as significant.”

Langer’s own career rested on a knife’s edge a couple of times and he was the beneficiary of loyalty.

During the 2001 Ashes, Langer’s hard work in the nets prompted the tour selectors to recall him in place of Michael Slater even though his form was far from spectacular.

A week out from Thursday’s first Test, Gilchrist was on record saying selectors should take all the doubt out of the situation and simply tell Burns he was in.

And there is every chance Langer may have done just that, revealing he has been in regular contact with Burns over the past seven days.

Tim Paine and Burns during a nets session at Adelaide Oval.

In the nets on Tuesday, he devoted himself to Burns as if it was a one-on-one session, and laid down the law in no uncertain terms about things he saw that he didn’t like.

Langer’s passion might spill over at times – as it did during the one-day series when he had a public clash with match referee David Boon in full public view – but he is a coach who stands up for what he believes in and is prepared to wear the consequences, even if it’s not popular.

Some professional coaches seem to go with the flow rather than shape their own team narrative, but whether you agree or disagree with some of Langer’s decisions, he could never be accused of that.

Test cricket has its own sense of natural order – and on this occasion that is that Burns, as an incumbent of a successful dressing room, should at least be given the chance to fail, if that is indeed all he does.

Marcus Harris has been in better form than Burns and could justifiably be called up for the second Test, but with his own modest Test average of 24, it was not a strong enough case to disrupt the natural order of things for Adelaide.

And Langer has sent a strong message to his players that once you are in, you won’t be discarded without the deepest consideration.