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Joe Burns not stressed by possible Test axing

Burns: horror return.

Burns: horror return. Photo: AAP

Usman Khawaja’s return to fitness is set to trigger a selection dilemma that could cost Joe Burns his place in Australia’s Test side.

However, Burns prefers to see the upside of the tough call that Rod Marsh’s panel will have to make for the Boxing Day Test.

“I guess it’s just a sign of how strong the team is,” Burns told reporters on Wednesday.

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“When everyone is performing at Test level, it puts the squeeze on.”

Khawaja is expected to return from a hamstring injury on Sunday night when his Sydney Thunder face Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash League.

If he plays, it will be his one and only match prior to Australia’s second Test against the West Indies.

If Rod Marsh and coach Darren Lehmann decide to recall Khawaja it will be either Shaun Marsh or Burns that is dropped.

Burns, who will play for the Brisbane Heat on Saturday night, isn’t stressing about the situation.

“I speak to Boof daily about coaching, about things we’re working on with my batting and fielding,” he said.

“But when it comes to selection, I don’t want to know. I don’t want to ask questions.

“It’s unnecessary to be worrying about those sort of things, it’s just a distraction that doesn’t really need to be there.

“It’s a tough enough game without worrying about selection.

“For me to be going to people and asking them about my spot in the team is a waste of time, waste of effort.”

Australia enforced the follow-on and crushed the West Indies by an innings and 212 runs in Hobart.

Burns failed to deliver a score of substance in that match, while Marsh scored 182 in the thumping victory.

The 26-year-old is already thinking long term when it comes to his partnership with David Warner.

“We have already talked about how (Matthew) Hayden and (Justin) Langer had 14 100-run partnerships and we have got three,” Burns said.

“We want 11 more.

“I’ve been quite lucky he has taken me under his wing and tried to teach me as much as possible about opening in Test cricket.”

Meanwhile, selector Mark Waugh was full of praise for Shaun Marsh’s mettle in the day-night Test at Adelaide Oval.

“That 49 won Australia the game against good bowling. It was swinging around, he was under pressure,” Waugh told Sky Sports Radio on Wednesday.

“The more runs you get, the better chance you are of holding your spot.

“Someone will be very unlucky but that happens. In history there’s a lot of those occasions, it’s not the end of a career of someone if they miss out.

“But it’s going to be hard to drop someone after the good form they’ve shown all season.”

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