Burns one step closer to Test recall

Joe Burns has given the National Selection Panel another reason to take him on the Test tour to Bangladesh next month after starring on one-day international debut against Ireland today.

Burns looked right at home at the top of the order alongside David Warner – Australia’s premier Test opener – scoring a free-flowing 69 in tricky batting conditions in the 23-run Duckworth-Lewis win in Belfast.

The elegant right-hander made his Test debut in the Boxing Day Test last summer, and was unlucky to miss out on selection to the Caribbean and Ashes this winter.

But after a solid tour with Australia A in India last month and a sparkling start to his ODI career, Burns is in pole position to add to his two Tests in the Baggy Green.

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Burns receives his cap 

And the man who will be leading the new-look Test outfit, Steve Smith, says the upcoming five-match ODI series against England is the perfect platform for Burns to stake his claim for a Test recall.

“Joe's had a taste of Test cricket and he played quite well in those Test matches that he played,” Smith said.

“I thought he played really nicely today, he complimented Warner ... they both played really well.

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“Rod (Marsh, Chairman of Selectors) said before that if you're scoring runs in one-day cricket you can certainly put your name up for Test cricket and hopefully he (Burns) can take the opportunity of opening in this series with both hands.”

One advantage Burns has going for him is his flexibility in the batting order.

The 25-year-old opens the batting for Queensland in the Sheffield Shield, but has played his two Tests at No.6, scoring a pair of half-centuries in his second match at the SCG.

Burns blasts off in Belfast (restrictions apply)

Australia need to find a new opener to replace Chris Rogers and a middle-order batsman to fill Michael Clarke’s spot.

Following their 139-run first-wicket partnership today, the combination of Burns and Warner could be facing both the white and red new balls in the near future.

“We seem to bounce off each other quite well,” Burns said of opening the batting with Warner.

“It’s the first time we’ve batted together.

“His batting plans, his ideas, I feel they suit my style of batting really well.

“Hopefully there’ll be some more solid partnerships to come.”

Meet Joe Burns

And while he’s not a selector, skipper Smith likes what he sees in Australia’s 207th ODI player.

“He's still young, he's still a little bit inexperienced but over the last couple of years he's certainly played some very good innings in first-class cricket,” Smith said.

“He's still learning every day.

“There's certainly no reason why he can't (play international cricket).”