Joe Burns delivers glowing review of Mitch Starc as his return from injury gathers pace
'Scary' Starc fit and back to his best
Mitchell Starc is back to bowling at top pace and presented a "scary" prospect for Test opener Joe Burns in Brisbane last week as the Australia squad stepped its preparation for the upcoming tri-series against the West Indies and South Africa in the Caribbean.
Starc, who succumbed to a stress fracture in his foot during the historic day-night Test against New Zealand in Adelaide last November and took that opportunity to undergo surgery to his troublesome right ankle, bowled off his full run-up at the Bupa National Cricket Centre in Brisbane.
Quick Single: Starc aims to get even better
He was joined for a number of centre wicket and fitness sessions by fellow seamer Josh Hazlewood, with Burns facing up to the pair on the purpose-designed 'spin' wicket recently installed at the NCC to replicate conditions the Australians will face in their subsequent Test and limited-overs tour to Sri Lanka.
And Burns, who wore at least one bruising blow from the left-armer, was left in no doubt as to how Starc was progressing on the road back to international cricket.
"He’s bowling very fast, very accurately and swinging it," Burns told cricket.com.au in the wake of those sessions when asked how Starc appeared to be recovering after his lengthy lay-off.
"I think he’s bowling close to his best.
"There were some very scary days facing him, but it’s just great to see him back on the park and bowling express speeds.
"He’s got that ability with the new ball to almost skid it off the lower wickets as well.
"So he’s still as challenging in those (sub-continental) conditions as he is on the Australian wickets I reckon.”
Installed as David Warner’s opening partner after Chris Rogers called it quits for Australia at the end of last year’s failed Ashes campaign, Burns has staked his place for the three Tests in Sri Lanka having posted three centuries in his eight Test appearances since the start of the previous home summer.
That included a man-of-the-match performance of 170 and 65 in the final Test against New Zealand in Christchurch, which Australia won by seven wickets to secure the world number one Test ranking.
Image Id: ~/media/C7F38ADA319842689B27704D9770C1A8 Image Caption: Burns produced his best performance to date in Christchurch earlier this year // GettyGiven that was his first full season of coping with the intensity and scrutiny of life as a Test player, the 26-year-old Queenslander has enjoyed a break from cricket over the past month or more before recently beginning a training program at the NCC.
Albeit a lonely one, given that most of his Australia teammates are based elsewhere or – as is the case with Warner - are still involved in the Indian Premier League, and the myFootDr Queensland Bulls don’t begin their pre-season campaign until next month.
"I can’t believe I’m saying this but I’m actually missing him," Burns revealed when asked if he was looking forward to resuming his opening partnership with Warner when the Qantas Tour of Sri Lanka begins in July.
"I’ve been quite bored hanging out in Brisbane, and (been) following him in India and all the Aussie guys in the IPL.
"I’m looking forward to catching up with everyone once we come together for that Sri Lankan series, it’s been a while now since the Test team has been together with the T20 World Cup and everyone’s had different experiences.
"You certainly do miss it.
"You miss the thrill and the excitement of representing your country, it makes you so proud every time you get to run on to that field.
"It almost makes going back to the real world a little bit boring, trying to enjoy the simple things again.
"There’s been many nights when I’ve been sitting at home looking forward to pulling on the Baggy Green and getting back out there and representing Australia."
Apart from those occasions when bowlers including Starc, Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon and Steve O’Keefe have passed through the NCC for training sessions, Burns has been working closely with his Queensland coach Phil Jaques.
Image Id: ~/media/99C01455C37746688E5DD71B9E7053F2 Image Caption: Burns has been working with Queensland coach Phil Jaques // GettyEven though Burns has no direct experience in Sri Lankan conditions to call upon ahead of the upcoming Test series, he was part of the Australia A squad that toured India last year.
And he can gain insights from Jaques, who opened alongside Matthew Hayden at Chittagong during Australia’s most recent tour to Bangladesh in 2006.
"There’s pretty much seven weeks before we leave (for Sri Lanka) so for the next few weeks I’m still sort of training by myself, which I quite enjoy," Burns said as he prepares to add to his 10 Test appearances to date.
"Getting stuck in and just working one-on-one with the coaches on some really key aspects of my game that you need to improve.
"I’ve been really lucky with Phil Jaques as the Queensland coach.
"He was an opening batter that played 11 Tests for Australia, and where I’m at with my career I can learn so much from the lessons that he learned, what he went through, how he developed his game and how he dealt with all the different aspects of international cricket.
"So it’s been fantastic working with him, not just technically but the mental side of it as well.
"I’ve been thoroughly enjoying it and hopefully I can have plenty more weeks working with him before the Queensland boys come in and I’ve got to share him with 20 other guys."