Mark Waugh weighs in on Australia’s first Test triumph

Australia’s favourite comeback story from the Gabba almost didn’t happen, according to former Aussie batsman Mark Waugh.

Former Aussie selector Mark Waugh says Joe Burns dodged a cricket ball-shaped bullet earlier in the year when he missed the cut for Australia’s tour of England.

The returning Aussie opener looked sharp and dangerous alongside David Warner against Pakistan last week, caressing his way through the field to a well-made 97.

But according to Waugh, Burns wouldn’t have made the same mark against the swinging Duke ball in the British Isles. West Australian-born Marcus Harris felt the sting of the English attack in August and subsequently dropped out of the spotlight as selectors geared up to pick a squad for the Gabba.

When asked if Australia missed a trick in dropping Burns for the Ashes, Waugh was flat as a tack: “I think if he played in the Ashes series, he would have been dropped for Brisbane,” Waugh said. “The bowling with the Duke ball was too tough for (Australia’s) top order that series.

“I think he’s glad he missed England!”

The 30-year-old Queenslander has spent time in and out of the side over the past five summers, keeping an impressive 42.06 average against the new ball and collecting four centuries.

Burns will have another chance to bring up triple figures against the tourists in Adelaide on Friday. Safe money goes on the home side, according to Waugh, who said only a hellish front of rain over South Australia will stop the Aussies winning the series by next week.

The former Aussie batsman said safe money was on Babar Azam to be the tourists’ top runscorer after being the only man to show any real resistance against Australia’s attack, bringing up a dogged century in Brisbane.

Mark Waugh says Joe Burns is lucky he missed the Ashes carnage.

“One innings doesn’t make a summer, but really happy with the positive signs,” Tim Paine said after Australia’s win this week. “I think we’ve nutted out a pretty good group at the moment — a group that can still get a lot better as well.”

The addition of opening batsman Imam-ul-Haq and pace bowler Mohammad Abbas are two changes being considered by Pakistan for the upcoming day-night Test

Pakistan is also tipped to recall Abbas, possibly at the expense of Imran Khan. Abbas, who did not play in the first test for Pakistan, took 17 wickets at an average of 10.58 the last time he played against Australia in the United Arab Emirates.

Paine said he was surprised when Abbas was left out, but Pakistan said his recent lack of pace was the reason. Australia scored 580 runs in the Brisbane test.

“Mohammad Abbas is always a very tough competitor and he’s a very class act,” Imam said Wednesday. “His performances and his stats show that … he’s difficult to judge off the pitch because his ball nips around, especially the new ball. And with a pink ball under lights (he) will be difficult.”

The second Test between Australia and Pakistan gets underway on Friday afternoon in Adelaide.