- Mar 25, 2003
- 35,681
- 28,334
Burns looks more suited to the middle order but has always scored more runs opening. Would be great if there was a definite comparison of performances over the years. He's got an average of 40.8 from 95 matches for Queensland and if I had to hazard a guess I would say 42 opening (~70 matches) and 35 in the middle order (~25 matches).
Stuart Law's justification prior to the 13/14 season was an inability to control nerves whilst waiting to bat so they experimented with just throwing him straight out there and he had two of his best seasons for Queensland. He still had his early batting nerves and was the reason he had so much trouble leaving the ball early and that got him into problems at test level.
There is a strong argument this is something he should have conquered as he got deeper into his professional career but alas everyone has limitations and unfortunately for Burns his weakness was incredibly easy for a bowler to exploit. Once he got going he was genuinely one of the best batsmen in the country but such a glaring and exploitable weakness meant he was facing a huge uphill battle at the highest level.
It's a shame. If he wasn't a professional cricketer he'd probably be sitting on BigFooty pumping out teams in the "Obscure XI thread"... A real cricket tragic's cricketer. Definitely one of the most likeable guys to pull on a baggy green.
Do agree that now Burns test chances are done Queensland should prioritise Renshaw as an opener over him. Bryce Street is a fair chance to find himself in Australia A squads pretty soon so Burns might open a chunk of the time anyway. On the rare occasions Usman and Marnus are available that would make for a bloody formidable top five.
Stuart Law's justification prior to the 13/14 season was an inability to control nerves whilst waiting to bat so they experimented with just throwing him straight out there and he had two of his best seasons for Queensland. He still had his early batting nerves and was the reason he had so much trouble leaving the ball early and that got him into problems at test level.
There is a strong argument this is something he should have conquered as he got deeper into his professional career but alas everyone has limitations and unfortunately for Burns his weakness was incredibly easy for a bowler to exploit. Once he got going he was genuinely one of the best batsmen in the country but such a glaring and exploitable weakness meant he was facing a huge uphill battle at the highest level.
It's a shame. If he wasn't a professional cricketer he'd probably be sitting on BigFooty pumping out teams in the "Obscure XI thread"... A real cricket tragic's cricketer. Definitely one of the most likeable guys to pull on a baggy green.
Do agree that now Burns test chances are done Queensland should prioritise Renshaw as an opener over him. Bryce Street is a fair chance to find himself in Australia A squads pretty soon so Burns might open a chunk of the time anyway. On the rare occasions Usman and Marnus are available that would make for a bloody formidable top five.
