Australia Test opener Joe Burns overcomes fatigue disorder; cleared to play again

He was diagnosed with something that had plagued former England opener Marcus Trescothick. However, Joe Burns has shown signs of fast recovery from a fatigue disorder that had threatened his chances of being part of the Ashes that starts next month. Burns, who has played only 16 Tests since making his debut in 2014, hit his career-best 180 against Sri Lanka in Canberra earlier this year but had to cut short his stint with county cricket in May.

The 29-year-old Queensland batsman was diagnosed with “post-infectious fatigue disorder” which was caused by a viral infection from October last year. He could play only one game for Lancashire on May 14. Burns went for rest and following that, he spent the last fortnight training. He attended sessions with former Australia coach Darren Lehmann and was due to return to England on Thursday to join the Australia A side. Australia lock horns with England in their first Test at Edgbaston on August 1.

Australia selector is happy Burns is back

“It’s good news that Joe is back to full fitness. Given that he’s had the okay to resume playing, and has been training at full tilt with Queensland, we’ve decided to add him to the (Australia A) squad to give him the opportunity to press for selection in the Ashes squad,” cricket.com.au quoted Australia national selector Trevor Hohns as saying.

Burns, who has 1,123 runs in Tests with four centuries, is in the race with Marcus Harris who made his debut against India last summer to become the opening partner of David Warner in the Ashes. He has played in six ODIs, scoring 146 runs. He was relieved with his recovery and said though it was somewhat uncertain over the last few weeks, but he was happy to get a medical clearance.

“So I’m looking forward to getting back to the UK, getting stuck in. The hardest thing is when you do have the uncertainty. I had symptoms for a long time, so I knew that something wasn’t right, but to get the diagnosis and then work with some specialists and get the support from Cricket Australia to get myself right and get back into training, as soon as you have that certainty it makes it a lot easier,” he added.