Test rookie Joe Burns all but booked his place in Australia’s squad for the Ashes later this year with a free-swinging half-century against India on day four of the fourth Test.

With Australia pressing for quick runs to set the game up for the fifth day, Burns hit 66 off 39 balls on Friday at the SCG, to go with his first Test half-century of 58 in the first innings.

Australia next play two Test in the West Indies before the first Test against England at Cardiff’s Sophia Gardens starting on July 8.

Injured skipper Michael Clarke will be back for the trip to Britain, but barring catastrophe Burns will likely make the trip to the Old Dart.

Burns hit three sixes and eight fours as he switched into short form mode to put his disappointing first Test effort of 13 and 9 in the third Test at the MCG behind him.

“You feel a lot more confident when you are contributing to a win,” Burns said.

“I was disappointed with my effort in Melbourne.

“It was lots of fun, just nice to contribute to the team and get us in a good position.

“On such a big occasion it means a lot more to go out there and make 50 in both innings.”

Burns grassed Bhuvneshwar Kumar early in the day in a simple chance at bat-pad off Nathan Lyon and said he had to quickly put that behind him to stay in the game.

“Any dropped catch is disappointing; it is the worst feeling in the game. At short leg it is no different,” Burns said.

“But you have to move on quickly especially at short leg because the opportunities are so sharp that you have to be switched on the whole time.

“I don’t think it impacted on my batting at all. Once you get the pads on, you put everything behind you and go from there.”