Burns survives as Paine considers opening slot

Joe Burns has survived, Steve Smith should be fit to play and the notion Tim Paine could be a makeshift opener instead of Matthew Wade refuses to go away.

Joe Burns has survived and will open, Marcus Harris was on standby for Steve Smith, but should not be necessary and the notion Tim Paine could be a makeshift opener instead of Matthew Wade refuses to go away, but is madness.

It could have been an option for one Test but with David Warner unlikely to be fit for Melbourne it becomes too big a task.

Opening with Paine seems a strange call given he bats at No 7. The thinking was that it was the least disruptive way of covering for the absence of Warner and including the talents of Cameron Green.

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A captain wicketkeeper has an enormous job, but giving yourself 10 minutes to get the keeper’s pads off and the opening batsman’s pads on to tired legs would be a massive strain.

As reported previously here, Paine came unstuck attempting to do just that when he began playing first class cricket for Tasmania. And he was a good 15 years younger.

Opener Joe Burns looks like getting the thumbs up from selectors

Events may prove selectors right but the decision to stick with Burns is extraordinary. It is hard to remember a batsman who has had such a run of outs being given a chance ahead of a batsman who at has a double century and a 50 from his Sheffield Shield matches.

Harris was not as impressive for Australia A but Burns who has scored a total of 62 runs in his last nine first class innings at an average of six.

If he succeeds the selectors will be heroes for backing the incumbent. There was some concern when Burns left training after hurting his hand in a training drill on Wednesday afternoon.

Green will take part in the first COVID Test cap presentation. The first quarantine baggy green will be handed over on the field without family present which is usually the case.

The 21-year-old has been chosen primarily as a batsman but will contribute some overs with the ball.

Smith was bent over and limping slightly when he left training on Tuesday night and presented looking stiff on Wednesday, but loosened up and completed a session in the nets.

The critical batsman had been spending hours batting at centre-wicket training since arriving in Adelaide, paying particular attention to the short ball under lights.

There’s a sense of deja vu all over again with Smith fighting a back injury ahead of an important Adelaide Test against India. In 2014 Michael Clarke defied a similar injury and made a century here in the game against the visitors but was then ruled out of the series when he tore both hamstrings and further damaged his back.

Smith did not take part in any fielding practice yesterday but acknowledged he was relieved to be able to bat with some freedom.

Virat Kohli, meanwhile, knows he will be here for just one Test as he is flying home for the birth of his child after this Test.

The Indian captain who has been involved in a number of fiery confrontations with Australia over the year believes relationships are better and participants calmer than they once were.

“This year has made people realise a lot of things which might not have been necessary in the past where you held grudges or had unnecessary tensions between teams and individuals is pointless,” he said.

“You are still going to be professional and make sure you are positive and aggressive in your body language and the way you go about things on the field.

“I don’t think things are going to be as personal as they used to be before, also because of the fact we all understand we are contributing to a larger cause and it is the quality of cricket that has to stand out.

Steve Smith trained well in the nets despite a back problem. Picture: Getty Images

“Obviously you are going to try and get people out, you are going to try and score runs but at the end of the day the unnecessary stuff is going to get filtered out.

“It could be a combination of playing IPL together, Australia changing their approach to an extent and just the way things have panned out this year.

“Everyone is just grateful for the opportunity to be back on the field.

“It is not like the games have not been as intense or as competitive. I feel there’s more respect between the sides and you can see that on the field.

“Banter is going to go on here and there, this is the highest level of cricket that we play and it’s going to be competitive, there’s going to be emotions flaring every now and then, but I don’t foresee anything getting personal anymore.

“We are all getting smarter and a few more years into our career.”