England hasn't enjoyed much test success in recent moths but Burns feels the return of Ben Stokes will lift the team.
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The bulk of the England squad reached Australia over the weekend for the 2021 Ashes series and opening batsman Rory Burns has said that the late inclusion of all-rounder Ben Stokes is a ‘massive boost’ for the team. England have not enjoyed much test success in recent months losing home series to New Zealand and India, and haven’t held the Ashes since 2015. But the return of Stokes who hasn’t played since July due to a finger injury and mental issues is definitely going to boost the morale of the team.
It’s obviously a massive boost to get Stokesy back in the side,” Burns said from the luxury resort on the Gold Coast where England’s Test players, who arrived in Australia on Saturday, are serving 14 days in quarantine.
“You know what a good player he is. To get a bloke of his calibre back around our group is a big lift for us.
“It’s exciting because we wanted to get out here and have the best side possible and obviously Ben adds to that.”
Stokes is a proven match winner who has played some unbelievable knocks in his career to win matches for England. The 30-year-old’s unbeaten knock of 84 runs in the final of the 2019 ODI World Cup against New Zealand helped England to tie the match, and then they went on to win the game and the title in a thrilling Super Over.
His unbeaten 135 in a record chase at Headingley carried England to a sensational one-wicket win against Australia in 2019 and ensured that the Ashes were squared.
But the New Zealand-born all-rounder has played down his return to full fitness and told Sky Sports before leaving for Australia that while he was desperate to be back playing in the “pinnacle of Test cricket”, one player did not make a team.
“Although I know I’m a senior member of that team over the last few years, every member of that team is just as important as each other,” he said.
“We’ve got the likes of Jimmy (Anderson), Broady (Stuart Broad) who have obviously been there, done that. Rooty — fantastic leader and England’s greatest-ever batter, so we’ve got everything to come back at Australia with what they’ve got.”
Australia play England in the first test at the Gabba on december 8. Although the likes of Steve Smith and Joe Root are going to be the main batters to look forward to from either side, English opener Burns will be hoping to make a mark. The 31-year-old faced the second most number of balls in the 2019 Ashes series behind only Steve Smith.
Burns faced 896 deliveries from the likes of Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, James Pattinson and Mitchell Starc. Although his test record isn’t the greatest, the unorthodox opener is someone who can work his way through the fiery Aussie pacers and make things easier for the batters following in.
“Generally sides that do well, their top order performs for themselves but also to try to get scores together as a team and a group and letting your middle order have best use of the conditions as well,” Burns said.
“So out here with the Kookaburra and those sorts of things, that initial stage is obviously very important, but there are times where it can be difficult for bowlers if you get it right. So, [it’s] about being able to adapt to those conditions, absorb pressure when you need to do, and try to reapply it when you can.” he added.
