‘Selection headache’: Burns fails again

After he was removed for four in the first innings, Burns recorded a duck on Tuesday afternoon at Drummoyne Oval, bowled by paceman Umesh Yadav.

Chasing a half-volley outside off stump, the 30-year-old looked to drive the ball through the covers, only for an inside edge to ricochet into the stumps.

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The Australian side were tasked with chasing 131 in 15 overs, so Burns could be excused for the erratic stroke considering the match situation. But the opening batsman hasn’t done his Test aspirations any favours after a string of low scores in first-class cricket.

Burns’ most recent scores in four-day cricket are 12, 7, 29, 0, 10, 11, 4 and 0. He has averaged a pitiful 8.71 with the bat in first-class cricket this season.

Meanwhile, Australia A teammate Will Pucovski was granted an early life in the second innings, dropped at second slip by Prithvi Shaw on one.

The 22-year-old then survived an LBW shout in the eight over, a decision which the Fox Cricket commentary team agreed was questionable at best.

“I think he got away with one,” former Australian wicketkeeper Brad Haddin muttered.

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David Warner will reportedly be unavailable for next week’s series opener at Adelaide Oval with a groin injury, meaning Burns will almost certainly keep his spot in the Test side.

But with Victorian guns Pucovski and Marcus Harris compiling record scores in the Sheffield Shield, selectors will be questioning whether or not to back their incumbent opener.

Burns will presumably have one final opportunity to prove his worth when Australia A take on India in a four-day match at the SCG.

If he can’t rediscover his form this weekend, calls for him to be sacked will only grow in volume.