Adaptable Burns seizes T20 chance

The latest tap on the shoulder in an unforeseeable few months for Erin Burns came from Australia captain Meg Lanning on Monday night.

"You’re batting at No.3 today."

After missing out on a bat in her first three T20Is in the green and gold, Burns suddenly found herself taking the place of Lanning, one of the world’s best batters, as first drop for Monday night’s second T20I against Sri Lanka.

"I tried to play it really cool and just go ‘yeah no worries’, but secretly I was getting a few of the butterflies in the stomach," Burns told cricket.com.au.

Not that anyone who watched her maiden international innings would have known.

Burns strode out to the middle of North Sydney Oval, under lights and to the applause of the home crowd, and proved exactly why the Australian selection panel took a chance on the 31-year-old.

Punching her sixth boundary of the night to seal an emphatic, series-securing victory for Australia, Burns top-scored with an unbeaten 30.

"It was fantastic to get out there in the middle and have a bit of a bat," Burns said.

"It’s my fourth T20 international so far, and the first time that I’ve been able to get out in the middle.

"I’m super happy to get a couple of runs and get another win on the board."

Since earning a surprise call-up into the Australian fold ahead of the recent tour of the West Indies, Burns has dared to dream of the heights cricket could take her to.

At the very least, Burns laughed that she would very happily take Meg Lanning’s No.3 spot in the order should the opportunity present itself in the third and final T20I against Sri Lanka on Wednesday afternoon.

Looking ahead to the upcoming Rebel WBBL that is shifting to a standalone season, occupying the months of October to December, Burns is excited at the prospect of donning the magenta as a senior member of the Sydney Sixers.

"To come into the fifth season off the back of a couple of tours with the Aussie girls, it’s really ignited a fire for me personally," she said.

"Hopefully can get a few runs, take a few wickets and throw myself out in the field and see how we go."

Then, there is the light at the end of the tunnel for this all-conquering Australian team – the T20 World Cup to be held in Australia in February 2020.

Burns spoke the sentiments that you’d assume echo the thoughts of the entire squad.

"It would be incredible to think that I could possibly be there myself.

"It’s definitely something that crosses your mind from time to time, but you try not to get too ahead of yourself."

With the depth in Australia’s female cricketing pool a well-documented subject, the competition for spots leading into the T20 World Cup is only going to intensify off the back of a season of Big Bash and an all-important international Tri-Series in late January and early February.

However Burns, exhibiting that laidback attitude that has seen her fit so seamlessly into the Australian setup, is ensuring that before anything else – she enjoys the ride.

"It’s just been fantastic," Burns reflected on her whirlwind few months.

"I didn’t necessarily think it was going to be something that was happening for me.

"But it’s just been phenomenal. To have your first tour in the Caribbean, surfing on your days off is not too bad at all,

"It’s just been a little fairy-tale these last couple of months."

Australia will look to complete a T20I series whitewash against Sri Lanka on Wednesday afternoon at North Sydney Oval before shifting to Brisbane for three ODIs at Allan Border Field in Brisbane.

CommBank Series v Sri Lanka

Australia squad: Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes (vc), Erin Burns (T20I only), Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Heather Graham, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Delissa Kimmince, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Tayla Vlaeminck, Georgia Wareham

Sri Lanka T20I squad: Chamari Atapattu (c), Harshitha Madavi, Shashikala Siriwardena, Anushka Sanjeewani, Hansima Karunaratne, Yashoda Mendis, Nilakshi De Silva, Dilani Manodara, Oshadhi Ranasinghe, Inoka Ranaweera, Sugandhika Kumari, Inoshi Fernando, Achini Kulasooriya, Udeshika Probodhani, Ama Kanchana.

First T20I: Australia won by 41 runs

Second T20I: Australia won by nine wickets

Third T20I: October 2, North Sydney Oval, 10.10am

First ODI: October 5, Allan Border Field, Brisbane, 10.10am

Second ODI:October 7, Allan Border Field, Brisbane, 10.10am

Third ODI: October 9, Allan Border Field, Brisbane, 10.10am

*All ODIs are ICC Women's Championship matches