Alec Stewart backs Rory Burns to bounce back from Gabba nightmare

The England opener was dismissed by Mitchell Starc with the first ball of the 2021-22 Ashes before making just 13 in his second innings. He also dropped David Warner on 48

Former England captain and Surrey’s director of cricket Alec Stewart has backed Rory Burns to bounce back from his nightmare performance in Brisbane, praising the opener's mental strength.

Burns was dismissed by Mitchell Starc with the first ball of the 2021-22 Ashes and made just 13 in the second innings before being caught behind off Pat Cummins. He also endured a tough time in the field, most notably dropping David Warner on 48 – he went on to make 94.

In the aftermath of England’s defeat, the 31-year-old has been on the receiving end of considerable scrutiny from Australia’s press and may be feeling the pressure after passing 20 just three times in his past 10 Test innings.

However, speaking on the Inside the Tour podcast, Stewart – who captained England in Australia in 1998/99 – believes Burns will be mentally ready for the pink-ball Test in Adelaide, which is scheduled to begin on Thursday, December 16.

^{Rory Burns dropped David Warner on 48 [Chris Hyde/Getty Images]}

"He’s had a bad Test match. He can’t hide behind that," said Stewart. "I’ve exchanged messages with him since the Test. But he’s one of the most mentally strong, robust cricketers I know.

"We’ve all had first-ballers. Yes, he was nervous. When you play Australia, in Australia, for the first time, the nerves are greater.  And that’s why he got in a tangle with his foot movement with his first ball. But five or six Test matches ago he was player of the series against New Zealand.'

"We’re always going to look at his technique when it doesn’t work, because it is a pretty unique method. When it is in sync with how he is playing, at the point of contact when the bowler lets go of the ball, he is in a good position. When he’s slightly out of sync, obviously it looks horrendous.

"I’m going to back him for this next Test match, because I know him, I know how mentally strong he is. For me, as Trevor Bayliss would say, you’re better off giving someone one Test match too many, rather than one Test match too few.

"And Burns is the third-most senior batsman in that inexperienced line-up, behind Root and Stokes."

Our coverage of the Ashes is brought to you in association with Cricket 22