Burns to make debut, Harris returns for Australia

Third Boxing Day Test a must-win for India after trailing 2-0.

Afp December 25, 2014

MELBOURNE: Debutant Joe Burns will bat at number six and paceman Ryan Harris returns for Australia in the third Boxing Day Test against India, said skipper Steve Smith yesterday.

Smith, who won his first Test as captain as a replacement for the injured Michael Clarke at the Gabba last weekend, said Harris would come into the side at the expense of paceman Mitchell Starc for the Melbourne Test match.

Burns, 25, who has the flexibility of batting anywhere in the top six, replaces injured all-rounder Mitchell Marsh.

Shane Watson will continue to bat at number three despite scores of 14, 33, 25 and 0 so far in the series against India.

Smith said he had opted for continuity in the third Test with Burns taking Marsh’s place lower in the order. “Watson’s best suited at the top of the order ... Burns will slot in at number six,” Smith told reporters at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

“Mitch has been playing some pretty good cricket ... he was starting to find his feet. It’s disappointing for him, but Burns gets his opportunity on Boxing Day and it’s going to be a very special week for him.”

David Warner, Watson and Shaun Marsh have been passed fit to play.

Sledging war shows no signs of abating

Captain MS Dhoni said yesterday sledging had nothing to do with India’s losing performance in the series against Australia and he encouraged more of it in this week’s third Test in Melbourne.

Dhoni said he saw nothing wrong with sledging despite India coming off second-best in their efforts to distract Mitchell Johnson during last week’s second Test in Brisbane. “I feel a bit of chirping is good on the field,” Dhoni told reporters. “That’s what makes cricket interesting... if the guidelines are followed, I’m not really bothered.”

India must win the third Test in Melbourne to keep alive the four-match series to the final Test in Sydney in the New Year.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 26^th, 2014.

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