Aussies in early to ready for Test series

Four of Australia's Test players will fine-tune their skills during a week-long stint at the MRF Pace Foundation in Chennai ahead of next month's tour of Sri Lanka.

Opening batsman Joe Burns, left-arm spinner Steve O'Keefe, paceman Jackson Bird and wicketkeeper Peter Nevill head to India on July 2 to prepare in the heat of the northern hemisphere's summer and conditions set to mimic those Australia's 15-man Test squad are set to encounter.

The quartet will be accompanied by eight members of the National Performance Squad, including boom spinners Mitchell Swepson and Arjun Nair, along with travelling support staff including Bupa National Cricket Centre Head Coach Troy Cooley, former South Australia spinner and Canada captain John Davison, physio Kevin Sims and Victoria Bushrangers bowling coach Mick Lewis.

Champion Australian fast bowler Glenn McGrath heads up the MRF Pace Foundation, and will be present as Australia's current and future crop of Test cricketers hit the nets before a two-day match to conclude the week.

The 12 players, Cooley and Sims will then link up with the remainder of the Test squad in Colombo, where the NPS players will mix it with their senior peers before returning to Australia on July 20.

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While Bird (county cricket) and Nevill (World T20) have played some competitive cricket since Australia's last Test assignment in New Zealand in February, the trip to the south east coast of India will be the first action Burns and O'Keefe will see since the end of the Sheffield Shield season in March.

Both Burns and O'Keefe have spent time at the NCC in Brisbane during the lay-off, with Queensland native Burns continuing to work on his game against the new ball despite the expected onslaught of Sri Lankan spin.

"Regardless of where you play the key principles of an opening batter don't change when you're trying to get through the new ball," Burns told cricket.com.au.

"You tie in a lot of lower, slower work, a lot of spin bowling and reverse swing as well (to prepare for Sri Lanka), but if you don't have the components that are going to get you through the new ball you don't get a chance to come up against a spinner or reverse swing.

"I've still been trying to develop in that area.

"Going to Chennai, I get the chance to step up playing a lot of spin. We've got quite a big build up in Sri Lanka as well so I knew in the back of my mind there was always going to be a few weeks to concentrate on spin bowling in spinning conditions."

Ten Tests into his Test career, Burns has scored three centuries, averages 49, and was man of the match in Australia's seven-wicket win in Wellington which clinched a 2-0 series victory and the world No.1 Test ranking.

But Sri Lanka will be a completely new challenge for the right-hander who has gone no further abroad in the Baggy Green than across the Tasman Sea for the two Tests against the Black Caps four months ago.

Which is why Burns has worked closely with Bulls coach Phil Jaques (who averages 106 in three Test innings against Sri Lanka) in the nets and sought out advice from those who have any information on his next Test opponents that could prove helpful, including his national coach Darren Lehmann.

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"Given that it's been the off-season we (Jaques and Burns) have spent hours in the nets trying to refine my game, technique-wise and the mental side of it," Burns said.

"It's been a fantastic little period to not have the distractions in your training of having to play a game and you can really develop and evolve your game.

"When Sri (consultant Sriram Sridharan) was up for spin week I had a chance to work with him as well.

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"Stuey Law (former Bulls batsman Stuart Law), who's coached in Sri Lanka as well, speaking to him about game plans.

"He's going as the batting coach so I've been having a few chats with him about what their bowlers will be trying to do and what sorts of game plans I'll need to put in place and then try and work on the skills in this period to execute those plans.

"Guys like Boof (Australia coach Darren Lehmann) are always around. I don't think there's anyone to better to learn off than Boof in those conditions. I'm going to be really well equipped."

Image Id: ~/media/094381A4490848A88B709C565F1BB6DE Image Caption: Lehmann celebrates a century at Galle in 2004 // Getty

Lehmann scored 375 runs and two centuries in Australia's three-Test tour of Sri Lanka in 2004, and will be back on deck for the entire trip after taking an extended break while the one-day squad travelled to the Caribbean for a tri-series against the West Indies and South Africa.

Burns, who has played six one-day internationals since his debut in August last year, was not selected for the 50-over tour, but can see the positives in missing out.

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"It's one of the benefits of being a Test-only player at the moment, that you have a bit more time to prepare specifically for each tour," he said.

"You look at the guys who play two or three forms, because they're bouncing from game to game around the world they're learning in-game.

"Whereas you have the benefit of a few weeks to prepare from tour to tour, from team to team, you know what bowlers are going to be bowling at you in four or six weeks' time and you can prepare accordingly."

But that doesn't mean Burns wants to remain a five-day specialist.

"Playing for your country, there's nothing better," he added.

"I'm sure every Australian would want to play every game for Australia they could.

"There's no higher honour and it's tremendously fun.

"Whatever game you are selected for you're putting your best foot forward for the side and while I'm not plying my job is to make sure I'm preparing myself the best I can so when I do come into that side and get back amongst the boys I'm in the best position I can be to perform for them."

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