[ad_1]
Asanka Brendon Ratnayake / AP
Australian Joe Burns walks from the field after he was fired without scoring on the first day.
Out-of-form starter Joe Burns’ test run looks almost over after he was fired from the Australian team to face India in Sydney.
Explosive left-hander David Warner (groin) and future rookie Will Pucovski (concussion) have been named to the 18-man extended squad for Test 3, which begins January 7.
Sean Abbott, quick with his right arm, has also been chosen after overcoming a calf injury.
Burns has been well below his best all summer, with just two scores above 11 in 13 first-class innings.
READ MORE:
* Black Caps vs Pakistan: Wagner, Jamieson, Santner secure an exciting victory for the hosts
* Australia v India: teams will arrive in Sydney just 72 hours before the test match
* Anton Devcich’s boundary bombardment comes too late in the defeat of Northern’s Super Smash
The 31-year-old produced an undefeated half-century during Australia’s successful chase in Adelaide, but missed both innings at MCG, with one duck and four, when India tied the Border-Gavaskar series.
On Tuesday, Burns spent time savoring the moment and taking photos with his partner in the MCG playing arena about an hour after what could turn out to be his last test appearance.
RICKY WILSON / THINGS
Spark Sport’s new cricket commentator Sonia Gray
He has been released to play BBL with the Brisbane Heat.
“Unfortunately, Joe’s returns have not been what he or the selectors wanted or what we believe he is capable of,” said Australian national coach Trevor Hohns.
Victorian hitting prodigy Pucovski is in the final stages of his recovery from the concussion that prevented him from making his test debut in either of the first two games.
The 22-year-old suffered his ninth concussion while hitting for Australia A on December 8.
“Will is in the final stages of graduated back-to-play protocols and has been symptom-free for some time,” Hohns said.
“He will be fit to play in Sydney subject to completion of return-to-play protocols and independent evaluation.”
If he’s cleared to play, Pucovski is shaping up to be a potential partner for Warner in a new opening partnership in Sydney after Burns and makeshift starter Matthew Wade were tasked with the first two games.
Warner insisted on his claims to return with a solid batting practice session at MCG’s nets during Test 2, but he still can’t run at his full pace.
Quinn Rooney / Getty Images
Jasprit Bumrah celebrates after landing Joe Burns’s window.
“David has come a long way in his recovery from injury and will have every opportunity to play in Sydney with another seven days until the game,” said Hohns.
Abbott has fully recovered from a calf strain, but it seems unlikely that he will make his way onto the team with Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood in good shape.
