Need To Put India On The Back Foot In The Tour Games Ahead Of The Test Series, Says Joe Burns

Australia opener, Joe Burns has started the verbal volleys ahead of the Test series against India. Burns reckons that Australia should dominate the tour games in order to keep the visitors at bay in the Test series.

Australia won the ODI series by 2-1, and the 3 T20Is begin on Friday followed by a high-intensity four-Test match series. Before the Test matches, two three-day tour games are scheduled to take place between India A and Australia A.

The first game is held from 6th to 8th December, the same date as the second and the third T20I match. Hence, India A will feature only the Test specialists like Cheteshwar Pujara, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Hanumra Vihari.

The second tour match will commence on December 11, which is a pink-ball game to give the players a practice of the day-night game ahead of the first game in Adelaide, which is a day-night pink-ball contest.

In a virtual press conference, Joe Burns opined that Australia A should land the first punch in the practice matches as this will put India on the back foot ahead of the Test series. Joe Burns believes that it will also prevent Virat Kohli’s team from gaining any momentum before the Adelaide Test.

As quoted by The Times Of India, Joe Burns said, “The focus is always about trying to win games and starting this week with Australia A, it’s about getting our preparations sorted for the Test series but also putting India on the back foot, landing the first punch and making sure they don’t take any momentum into what’s going to be a fantastic series.”

Pucovski has earned his spot in the squad: Joe Burns.

Joe Burns, who is the regular opener for Australia, is challenged for the spot by 22-year-old Will Pucovski. Both the players have had completely contrasting scores in the recent domestic circuit. On the one hand, Pucovski has recorded two mammoth double hundreds in two games, on the other Burns has 57 runs in five innings.

Both will be playing together in the practice matches against India A. Regarding that; Burns acknowledges that Pucovski is in good form, and has earned his spot in the squad. The 32-year-old is excited to play alongside the youngster, as both aim to score big runs.

“I haven’t had a chance to bat too often with Will. So the Australia A game and the lead-up to it, it’s a crucial part of our preparation as a Test squad. It’s exciting, Will’s obviously in really good form. He’s earned his spot in the squad and I’m just looking forward to getting to work with him and getting stuck in,” Joe Burns added.

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