Joe Burns undeterred by scarring Sri Lanka Tests

Joe Burns' arms are scarred. The scars come from diving forward onto the abrasive squares of Sri Lankan cricket grounds in pursuit of catches at short leg. Painful as they are, deeper scars have been inflicted on Burns' confidence as a batsman this tour, in which his struggles have been emblematic of a collective Australian failure not seen in many a long year.

Having gone to India with Australia A last year, and again this year with a pre-tour advance party, and then spent two weeks in Colombo before the Tests began, Burns had seemingly been well prepared for the task. But from the moment he was bowled by a Rangana Herath skidder on the first afternoon of the series, Burns has slipped down an Asian wormhole of doubts and second guesses well known to plenty before him.

In the second innings at Palekelle he was clean bowled by a Lakshan Sandakan special just when he looked to be getting set. He gifted Vishwa Fernando a first Test wicket in Galle with a hook to square leg, and then picked out cover when he attempted to take the attack to Herath in the second innings. If he has followed a personal mantra not to repeat the same mistakes, that is scant consolation for a return of 34 runs in four innings.

"I'm not really one to be in or out of form," Burns said in Colombo. "For me, every innings is different. I just try to focus on making sure I'm not making those same mistakes over and over. And in a place like the subcontinent, there's so many things that you can learn from the experience that you don't really worry about form, it's about executing different game plans and developing different skills.

"As a batter, you want to give yourself a chance to get in; it's always disappointing to get out early in your innings. Especially in these conditions, you know it's going to be tough to start. I guess that was the most frustrating thing about the second innings in Kandy - you know, when you do get a start you need to push on and make a game-changing score.

"That's probably been the most frustrating thing for me so far on the tour, having an opportunity there in Kandy to really go on with it, and not take that opportunity. Like I said, we don't make any excuses, we just try to learn as much as we can. I've learned a hell of a lot over the last four innings, and hopefully I'll take those lessons forward from here."

For a batsman raised on the hard, true Gabba surface, these lessons have been something like a young student's first forays in Latin or quantum physics. Burns agreed it took courage to go away from what was comfortable and familiar in order to succeed in Asia, but also acknowledged this could not be used as an excuse for poor batting displays.

"When you grow up, you learn a game, you play all your domestic cricket in Australia," Burns said. "Some guys are lucky enough to play in the IPL or in County cricket and you get a taste of different experiences. I guess the courage comes when you're asked to change your game in the cut-throat environment of the pressure-cooker that is international cricket. It does take courage.

"I think all our boys are doing that. The results probably don't show that so far. That's why everyone wants to get back out there and prove it to ourselves, prove it to the world, that we are good enough to take the game on and to adapt our game and have success globally. Not only that, but to play well for Australia. We're two-nil down in a series. It's very frustrating at the moment. It's a tough spot to be in. I feel like we're doing everything we possibly can to turn it around."

All that is left for Burns, and for others such as Usman Khawaja and Adam Voges, is to hope they are retained for the dead third Test - Rod Marsh and Darren Lehmann will discuss team selection on Thursday - and then attempt to show evidence of learning. Australia must now be looking upon this match as much for next year's tour of India as the saving of face in Sri Lanka.

"It would mean a hell of a lot," Burns said of making consolation runs. "The series has gone now, but you're playing for your country. There's so much pride to play for in the third Test, not just for the country but as a group. We've gone through a little bit of a tough time. But if we can turn it around and put in a good performance, it would be huge. I know all the boys are extremely motivated.

"We're doing absolutely everything we can to turn it around. We just have to trust that putting work into your game will get the results. International cricket is challenging because you play all around the world. To be an international cricketer you want to have success all around the world. That success hasn't come so far in the first two Tests, with the losses that we've had.

"But you want to be a part of winning teams as a group but also as an individual to be putting in strong performances around the world. That is what drives us as individuals and as a team. That's why we're working so hard and trying to be really open-minded to develop game plans and skills that are going to allow us to have success for a long period of time as a group."

As for fielding at short leg, the scars, bruises and near misses to the helmet have not yet dissuaded Burns from the job - something else for the selectors to keep in mind. "I don't hate it because I feel like I'm always in the game in the subcontinent," he said. "I feel like it's an important position.

"At times it is quite painful and scary. You can sometimes hear the ball fizzing past you. You can certainly feel it hit you when it does. Whenever you get scared you kind of just look at the badge on your helmet and it makes it all worthwhile."