Xtra Time Web Desk: Australia test opener Joe Burns on Monday said India will be even more depleted with the absence of Virat Kohli and Mohammed Shami for the remaining test matches. Indian skipper will be returning back home on a paternity leave while Shami fractured his right arm during the first D/N test at Adelaide Oval.
“I think Shami and Virat are big losses for India. In saying that, Indian team has got very good depth. They are still going to be challenging. It is always hard to replace world class players like that (but) we are going to look who are going to come in. We have to prepare really well for the next game, we know Indians can bounce back strongly. We have to start well and carry on the momentum from the last game. We know we can bounce back,” Burns said in a virtual press conference from Adelaide.
Burns had been under a lot of fire due to his poor form in the lead up to the first test. He only managed 62 runs across nine Sheffield Shield games. He could make just eight in the first innings in the pink-ball Test but came good in the second with 51 not out as Australia chased down the 90-run target on the third day of the match.
“It certainly helped getting the runs…felt like coming back home again (to the Test team) after the Covid-19 break…so much support and confidence in the team…so much success together…to take on such opposition in a big game,” said Burns.
On being asked if they can repeat the dominance in Boxing Day Test at MCG, Burns said, “We are the best team in the world, we are very, very confident against everyone in every venue. Our bowlers are unbelievable. I think they bowled really well in the first innings, didn’t get the rewards and in the second innings, everything fell in place. We know the game in and game out. They (bowlers) are going to be pushing pressure on the opposition the great luxury the team has.”
The second Test will be played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground from Saturday.