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'He's almost at that point...': Alastair Cook explains how England opener can 'evolve again'
England at present are on the backfoot in Adelaide, having lost two early wickets with a 400-plus total to overcome.
On the second day of the ongoing Ashes Test in Adelaide, Rory Burns edged a nipping away delivery straight to Steve Smith at second slip. Four overs later, Haseeb Hameed also made his way back to leave the tourists at 17/2 in 8.4 overs, trailing by 456 runs at stumps of the Ashes Test.
Speaking on Burns' lean patch, former England skipper Alastair Cook has said that the opener is currently at that stage of his career where he needs to mull over his future in international cricket.
The 31-year-old Burns has managed to score just 17 runs across three Test innings. He was bowled off Mitchell Starc's very first delivery in the opening Test in Brisbane. The left-handed opener scored 13 in the second innings before falling prey to the opposition skipper Pat Cummins.
Cook said Burns will have to "sit down himself" and think about improving at the biggest level. While speaking to BT Sport, Cook said: "He's almost at that point now where if he wants to take that next step on in international cricket, does he have to evolve again?"
"He's been very consistent with this technique at county cricket. This is what he's going to stick to. You're always told in international cricket, 'Do what you do in county cricket, don't change how you play.' It is probably getting to the stage now where he'll have to sit down himself and say, 'What do I need to improve?'"
Burns' early dismissals have put England on the backfoot in the Ashes, leaving the Joe Root-led side with limited batting options at its disposal. Cook further elaborated on how the opener needs to achieve "consistency" at the start of his innings.
"This does work for Rory Burns on occasions. But to be more consistent early on in his innings, I think he needs to think about how he gets that bat coming down.
"This does work for Rory Burns on occasions. But to be more consistent early on in his innings, I think he needs to think about how he gets that bat coming down," Cook said.
England at present are on the backfoot in Adelaide, having lost two early wickets with a 400-plus total to overcome. On the back of counter-attack from the lower-order, declared at 473/9 in the first innings. Marnus Labuschagne notched his maiden century in the Ashes before skipper Steve Smith scored his 32nd half-century.
