Everything about Mark Waugh appealed to Joe Burns growing up – well, maybe not the mullet.
Waugh’s laidback, uncomplicated approach has clearly rubbed off on Burns – and the clean-cut Queensland batsman reckons he will need it in a crunch one-day clash with NSW at the Gabba on Wednesday.
“I had a V100 (bat) when I was younger and was in the front yard trying to bat like Mark Waugh,” Burns told AAP.
“He looked so relaxed.
“These days I enjoy watching him bat in the World Series classic games on Fox (TV) – but maybe not the old school haircut.”
Burns, 23, has something else in common with his former idol – plenty of runs.
Burns is among the top 10 in Sheffield Shield and one-day run scorers this season, averaging 46.66 in 50-over cricket with two half centuries in three games.
And he is eyeing off another score against the Blues in a bid to keep the Bulls’ one-day title hopes alive.
Queensland believe they have turned the corner after breaking a six-match one-day losing streak with last week’s final-over win against Tasmania in Hobart.
With Victoria on 19 points and South Australia on 14, a loss would end the title hopes of the Bulls (4).
Another big knock will keep Burns’ name in front of national selectors who rewarded him with a nod on Australia A’s off-season trip to England.
“I was playing with guys I was watching on TV not that long ago,” Burns said of his Australia A trip.
“It was a strange feeling but yet I felt comfortable – I take confidence from that.”
He has also caught the eye of ex-Test skipper Greg Chappell who rated him one of the top five young batsmen to watch in the upcoming Big Bash League despite not playing a Twenty20 game to date.
“For him to even rate me, that does give you confidence. Hopefully I can back that up,” Burns said.
A Bulls squad without captain James Hopes (knee) will hope to inflict more pain on a NSW side still smarting from Victoria’s weekend record run chase.
“We are still wary. You can’t read too much into that game – it was a pretty flat wicket,” Burns said.
