Joe Burns’ coach has lauded him as gritty, not pretty, and backed the batsman to handle the extreme pressure of a shock Boxing Day Test cricket debut.
Queensland coach Stuart Law says Burns is a competitor in the mould of Australian greats Allan Border and Steve Waugh.
Law is confident the 25-year-old will not take a backward step against the Indian attack.
“Joe probably won’t be a classical stylist, but what he is a gritty, hard-nosed competitor,” Law told AAP.
“That’s the one thing that stands out with the great Test players.
“Often times the pretty guys to watch haven’t always got the job done week in, week out, but the real hard-nosed gritty performers – guys like Allan Border and Steve Waugh – they were guys who would go out there, enjoy the contest, get into a fight then fight their way out of it.
“Joey Burns is a bit like that.
“He might not be that pretty for people watching, but he can really play this kid.”
Law added that Burns was only going to keep improving.
The pair have spoken about seizing opportunities and Law expects Burns will make the most of his sudden promotion.
Burns has come into the Australian Test squad to replaced injured all-rounder Mitch Marsh.
“In the conversations that we’ve had about playing for Australia I’ve told him that there’s no point tapping on a window, you might as well bash down a door,” Law said.
“Before this season he went away and got really fit in the gym and he hit a million balls in the nets.
“I think he’s batting the best he has in a long, long time, if not the best ever.
“He’s ready to go.”
Law also hopes that Burns will bat at the top of the order.
He has opened for Queensland in the Sheffield Shield so far this summer and made 439 runs at 54.87.
As national selectors ponder how to recast Australia’s batting line-up, Law urged them to be bold.
“I’d really like to see him bat in the top three,” Law said.
“I’d hate to see him sitting around waiting to bat because he’d be a nervous wreck by the time he got in.
“He doesn’t sit around and watch very well – he’s up and walking around because he just wants to be out there playing cricket.
“I’d like to see him bat at No.3 instead of torturing the kid by sitting him in the dressing room on Boxing Day batting down at No.6.”
Also on Monday, Australian opener David Warner said there was no way he would miss the Boxing Day Test.
Warner is nursing a sore thumb after the second-Test win in Brisbane.
“I will definitely be playing – I will be doing everything I can,” he said.
“Obviously it’s a big painful, it’s the one I broke before, but I’m not missing a Boxing Day Test, that’s for sure.”
