Australia v India: Adam Gilchrist calls on selectors to back in Joe Burns a week out from first Test

Adam Gilchrist has encouraged selectors to tell Joe Burns his spot is assured for next week’s first Test despite his run of outs.

Joe Burns has failed to fire with the bat this summer. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Adam Gilchrist believes the last man into the Test team should be the first one chosen – Joe Burns.

The form slump engulfing Burns has become a massive headache for Australia, but Gilchrist says he would go the other way and simply tell the Queenslander his spot is safe, a week out from the first Test.

Burns is facing the prospect of a high-stakes bat-off against Marcus Harris in Friday night’s pink-ball tour match at the SCG, however Gilchrist says selectors should instead back their incumbent opener by telling him it’s a practice game rather than a selection trial.

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Joe Burns is under pressure to retain his spot in the Test team. Picture: Phil Hillyard

“That may be the sensible thing to do. To say, ‘don’t worry, you’re going to walk out there in Adelaide,’” Gilchrist said at Wednesday’s Fox Cricket Big Bash League launch.

“Now go and gain some exposure against (Jasprit) Bumrah and whoever the Indians serve up under lights.’ I think that’d be the sensible thing to do, personally.

“Just to let him clear any doubts out and let him know he’s got the backing. He’s not playing a trial game, he’s just having a practice game to try and sharpen up for Adelaide.”

Playing Burns in the tour game against India on Friday is now a double-edged sword for Australia. If he makes runs, Australia’s problems are solved, but if Burns fails again it only deepens the dilemma.

Which is why Gilchrist would take the stress away for Burns and let him relax following a run of seven scores under 30 to start the summer.

Joe Burns has made a slow start to the summer. Picture: Getty Images

“I’d like to know if I’m in the team. If I’m in the team I’d play the (tour) game,” Gilchrist said. “And that may well be a conversation they’ve had.”

Gilchrist said he understands those screaming for selectors to pick young gun all-rounder Cameron Green in Adelaide, but maintains the trust and confidence of the Australian dressing room is a delicate thing to balance.

It’s why incumbents who have done the job in the baggy green can’t simply be cast out the moment there’s a new kid on the block, particularly when the team has been winning.

Gilchrist said Australian coach Justin Langer is very strong on these principles, and that’s why he believes the places of Travis Head, Matthew Wade and even Burns should be protected for Adelaide, despite the emergence of Green.

Adam Gilchrist says selectors should tell Joe Burns whether he is in the Test team or not before the tour match against India on Friday. Picture: Brett Costello

“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.

“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.

“He was the beneficiary of that in his career and I think the players really have responded to him in his tenure as coach along those lines. And Tim Paine operates with the same mindset.

“Stats can be quite compelling and revealing, but there are things that you can’t measure and present to people that are so valuable like that. That’ll feature significantly in selections I imagine.”