Selectors kill Joe Burns’ career after throwing him under the bus

Joe Burns may have played his last Test of the summer — and his career — after another humiliating failure. But it’s not all his fault.

Joe Burns may have played his last Test.

Joe Burns never stood a chance.

The Aussie opener’s career is hanging by a thread after yet another failure in the summer from hell.

Facing a large first innings deficit in Melbourne, Burns escaped a close run out chance and a review for LBW but fell when he edged Umesh Yadav behind for four, ending a torturous 10-ball stay at the crease.

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It was an absolute peach of a delivery that angled in and decked away late to catch the outside edge. Few players would have been able to handle it but of course, given Burns’ rotten luck, he was the batsman forced to face the unplayable.

Making matters worse, Burns went upstairs to review the decision after being given out despite HotSpot showing he’d clearly nicked the ball.

Burns entered the series against India in the worst form of his life. In nine first class knocks he’d managed just 62 runs but kept his place in the starting XI because David Warner was out with a groin injury and young gun Will Pucovski missed out on a Test debut after being concussed while batting for Australia A.

Some suggested Marcus Harris should be recalled at the top of the order but selectors kept faith in the incumbent, partnering him with Matthew Wade, who was promoted from No. 6.

Burns scored eight in the first dig in Adelaide and there was hope he’d rediscovered his touch with a fighting unbeaten half century in the second innings. However, twin failures at the MCG — scoring 0 and four — mean the right-hander’s head is on the chopping block after scrounging just 63 runs in two Tests.

Chief cricket writer for The Australian, Peter Lalor, said in commentary for SEN: “That’s a pretty sad exit for Joe Burns. Surely that’s the last straw for selectors who have stood by him.”

Ex-Australian opening batsman Chris Rogers also weighed in. “I guess ‘scrambled’ is probably the best way to describe maybe Joe Burns’ method and mind set there,” Rogers told SEN.

“He just looked all at sea didn’t he. He didn’t really look comfortable at any stage.”

Bye bye, Joe Burns.

Plenty of punters on social media believe we’ve seen the last of the Queenslander in the baggy green — and mocked him for reviewing his dismissal.

Vince Rugari tweeted: “Joe Burns, sorry, but that’s stumps for you at Test level.”

Mitch Cohen said: “Joe Burns going so bad he doesn’t even know when he hits it.”

Former Australian all-rounder Tom Moody added: “Joe Burns nearly out 3 ways (edge, bowled & lbw) worst of all takes a review with him! Warner has found his slot if fit.”

Tasmanian legend Jamie Cox wrote: “Don’t think I’ve ever felt so many emotions for someone I’ve never met than Joe Burns!”

Sports journalist Brad Davidson said: “That will be it for Joe Burns you would imagine if Warner is fit next Test. Looked all at sea there — such an unforgiving game and can be cruel at times but the world class Bumrah was all over him.”

Burns couldn’t buy a run for his state before Christmas but selectors still threw him into the Test cricket cauldron where he’d have to face the likes of Jasprit Bumrah with a new ball. That’s a tough enough prospect when you’re seeing them like beach balls but it’s borderline cruel forcing Burns to suffer through it given the form he was in.

The justification for Burns’ selection was that he’d been a solid contributor to the side since being recalled last summer, and boasted an impressive Test record with four centuries and an average hovering around 40.

The selectors were trying to give Burns a vote of confidence by sticking with him but ironically, picking him was probably the worst thing they could have done.

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Joe is down for the count.

Fox Sports reporter Tom Morris said the selectors need to accept some of the blame for Burns’ horror run.

“The Aus selectors have got plenty right in recent times. Labuschagne was an inspired call during the 2019 Ashes. But they’ve hung Joe Burns out to dry. Really poor,” Morris tweeted.

Radio broadcaster and Sheffield Shield commentator Adam White also agreed being selected was unfair on Burns.

“I’ll never understand Burns’ selection. It’s unfair on him, unfair on his teammates,” White wrote on Twitter. “He’s a man who’s been hopelessly out of form for months.

“Doing all the same wrong things we saw there in that 10 minutes. Referencing things that happened a long time ago was always irrelevant.”

Sports reporter Daniel Garb echoed that sentiment. “Hindsight is 20/20, yes. But picking Burns made no sense. If you’re horribly out of form, you’re out of form,” he tweeted.

“Playing well or wanting to keep the same team from 11 months ago (when you’re not a proven champion) has no relevance. It’s illogical.”