A stylish batsman who plays straight, plays late and has the patience to wait for balls in his area, Joe Burns was confirmed as David Warner's new Test opening partner for Australia's 2015-16 home summer. His selection came after two Test appearances at No.6 against India the previous season, but despite score a pair of fifties in his second game he was dropped for the tours of West Indies and England that followed, with other players having returned from injuries. Burns burst on to the scene with 140 on Sheffield Shield debut against South Australia late in the 2010-11 season, the third highest score on debut by a Queensland player. He became a fixture in the Shield-winning state team the following summer, when he scored 781 runs at 41.10, placing him fifth on the competition tally. Named the Bradman Young Cricketer of the Year in 2013, Burns enjoyed a move up the order to become an opener for Queensland. In 2014-15 he was Queensland's leading Shield run scorer with 793 at 52.86, and his Test debut came in the same summer. He played his initial ODIs in the British Isles following the 2015 Ashes and was chosen for Australia's Test tour of Bangladesh, which was ultimately cancelled due to security concerns. A level-headed individual who has studied business and finance at university, Burns is a well-rounded man both on and off the field.
Brydon Coverdale