As a batting group, we're prepared for long battles: Joe Burns

After two weeks of meticulous work-out, and an intra-squad match to get used to the unfamiliar conditions in Sri Lanka ahead of the Test series, Australia, on Wednesday (July 19), got their first real hint of what they'd require to put on a highly-competitive performance on tour - patience.


The visitors got some valuable batting practice on Day 2 of the three-day warm-up game against Sri Lanka XI at the P Saravanamuttu Stadium, Colombo. Starting the day on 127 for 1 with Joe Burns batting on 62, Australia went on to take a sizeable 202-run lead over Sri Lankan XI's first-innings total of 229. Burns, who managed to add just 10 more runs to his overnight tally, stressed on the virtue of perseverance.
 
"We've talked as a batting group about needing to be patient for long periods on the subcontinent. If they bowl good areas, it's tough work and slow going. You have to be committed to trying to bat all day. I guess that's one disappointing thing to come out of the day - all our batsmen spent some time at the crease but no one went on to get a big score," he said.
 
Despite the lead, the fact that Australia lost nine wickets in the innings, leaves them with flaws to iron out before the first Test, starting on July 26. Each batsman in the middle-order got starts but most failed to consolidate, as only Steven Smith and Steeve O'Keefe scored half-centuries, the latter finishing unbeaten on 62 at stumps. 
 
"When bowlers are bowling straight, with straight fields, you hit the fielders a lot. You go long periods where you're not scoring quickly, and then you might get a few boundaries away in a cluster. That's generally how scoring goes on low, slow wickets with reverse swing and spin bowling. You just have to ride the waves and wait for the sets to come in," the opening batsman opined.
 
With less than a week to go for the opening fixture of the series, Burns reckoned Australia's batting group needed to be prepared for 'long battles' and stay focussed while playing a lot straighter than usual, which could be the key to their success.
 
"You just have to be prepared to buckle in and try and go with the conditions. There's nothing too much you can do about it as a batter. As a batting group we're prepared for those long battles. Hopefully we can bat for extended periods of time going into the Test series."
 
"I guess here - with the lower, slower wickets - you hit more balls than perhaps you would in Australia, especially because bowlers bowl straighter as well. I guess you want to be hitting straight, but that seems to be where the fielders are. Generally, you probably pick up your runs quite square, even though you're trying to hit straight. There are also periods when it's reversing quite a lot, and then it will die down," Burns said.