Joe Burns Credits 'Being Really True' To Himself For Fine Form In Sheffield Shield

Updated - 21 Jun 2019, 06:16 PM

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Buoyed by his red-hot form in the Sheffield Shield, Australia batsman Joe Burns has said he managed to take his game to a notch higher by doing some soul-searching about what works best for him rather than rather than tinkering with his technique.

The right-handed batsman, who was dropped from the Australian Test side last year, has been in fine form in the Shield, scoring 514 runs at an average of 57 including the career-best unbeaten double century against South Australia in his side’s last match before the Big Bash League break. And the batsman has credited a change in mindset for the turnaround in his batting.

“I think for me I’ve just tried to stick to what I know works for Joe Burns, I’ve tried to be really true to myself,” Burns, who is currently the third leading run-scorer in the Shield, told cricket.com.au.

Burns has already scored 514 runs in Sheffield Shield this term (Credits: Getty)

“I know I’ve got the game to succeed at the highest level as long as I’m ticking all my own boxes, taking full ownership of my preparation and the way I want to play and just trusting and developing my success.”

“I’d like to think I’m always trying to get better, every game I play every training session, but I think just trying to be really authentic to who I am,” he added. “I’ve got a better understanding of who Joe Burns the batsman is, and how Joe Burns is going to have success, and I think you need to ride the ups and downs to get to that point to have a good understanding of your own game.”

Burns, who had scored over 700 runs in the last Shield season, further said that getting dropped from the national side hurts. Burns was dropped from the team after Australia’s collective failure in Sri Lanka last year where they were whitewashed 3-0 by the Islanders.

Many thought that the axing was unfair on Burns who had entered the series against Sri Lanka on the back of a good home season. The right-handed batsman scored two Test hundreds and averaged 45.70 in what was his first summer as a Test opener.

Not surprisingly, Burns was hurt with the axing, as he said:

“Being dropped is an incredibly challenging part of professional sport, in particular cricket when you’re trying to play for your country.

“I think the best piece of advice I can give anyone, not just the recent guys who’ve missed out on Test selection but anyone, is don’t try and hide away from the fact it does suck and it does hurt – you want it to hurt, it’s playing for your country.”

The 28-year old lost his place on the Test side following a poor outing in Sri Lanka (Credits: Getty)

“I guess just have a few days to yourself and then come back with a really focussed mind, a really high work ethic and trust that you’ll get back and trust your game. It was good enough in the past, and if you do all the right things you can have success in the future,” added the 28-year old.

With form on his side, Burns will now be eyeing a successful outing in the Big Bash League to further press his claims for a recall to the national team.

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