Perth Test: Joe Burns says he and David Warner ‘on the same page’ when running between wickets
Ahead of the first Test against the Kiwis in Perth, Joe Burns has explained how David Warner’s pace and his endurance means the pair click between the wickets.
Cricket
Don't miss out on the headlines from Cricket. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Not so fast, Davey.
There’s another prime athlete in your latest opening combination.
Joe Burns wants the world to know that the tortoise can actually catch the hare.
David Warner was described by his coach on Tuesday as Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor all rolled into one.
Last week after hammering singles throughout his epic 335 not out, Warner’s sprint coach said the left-hander was faster than NRL speedsters Josh Addo-Carr and Jarryd Hayne between the creases.
But while Warner might be the cheetah of opening batsmen, Burns claims he’s the energiser bunny who just doesn’t run out of battery.
In fact, Burns says he beat Warner in the pre-season 2km time trial.
Stream the Australia v New Zealand Domain Test Series Live & Ad-Break Free During Play with KAYO SPORTS. Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly>
“I guess we’re on the same page a lot. I test fitter than him which helps,” Burns said.
“(I beat him) in the 2km time trial.
“It allows me to have a little bit more motor.
“So I’m often kicking him to keep him going out there.
“Sometimes you just click, and it becomes easy.”
Warner was standing within earshot as Burns talked up his athletic prowess and quipped back, “What, is this a fictional book?”
The science might not make sense, but the Warner and Burns combination just seems to work.
“We barely call anymore,” said Burns.
“We almost just know where each other are going to get our singles and a lot of the time I will actually be taking off for the single before I think he realises where the ball is going.
“Just because I know he’s going to be fast. I love it, personally. There’s nothing better than when you know your partner is going to get quick singles and turn twos into threes.
“He’s obviously extremely fit and extremely fast and I think that plays a big part in his game as well.
“People see the boundaries, but they don’t realise the (advantage) of being able to get off strike with his speed between the wickets.”
Burns made scores of 0 and 11 against the pink ball at Perth Stadium last month in a forgettable selection trial for Australia A against Pakistan – which included a batting collapse of 9-50.
But rather than be scarred by the experience, the Queenslander says it has boosted his confidence going into Thursday’s first Test against New Zealand under lights at the same venue.
“Absolutely. Performance comes and goes. All you can control as a player is your preparation,” he said.
“Spending a week or two preparing for that game and in the game preparing for those conditions, it gives you a lot of familiarity when you then get to the Test match.
“Everything you do as a player is based around your preparation. You almost go into auto pilot by the time you play. That week or two will leave us in good stead this week.
“(The low scores) against Pakistan, I think that was just a lack of exposure to the pink ball for our group.
“It was our first hit against the pink ball in a long time and as a group of batters we learnt a lot from that game.
“We’ll lean on that experience hugely this week and it gives us a big advantage coming up against a New Zealand team that hasn’t played pink ball cricket for a while and hasn’t played at Optus.”
