Burns, Renshaw and Labuschagne fail in Sri Lanka tour match

Australian selectors’ hopes that Joe Burns, Matt Renshaw and Marnus Labuschagne could spend quality time in the middle have been extinguished within an hour as the trio were all knocked over without passing double figures in a major concern ahead of next week’s first Test.

After winning the toss and electing to bat, a Cricket Australia XI found itself in all sorts of bother at 3-25 in just the 11th over of a three-day tour match against a Sri Lankan outfit at Blundstone Arena in Hobart.

Failed audition: Joe Burns made just four against a Sri Lankan XI in Hobart.Credit:AAP

Burns (4) was the first to go, slashing at a wide ball from Kasun Rajitha that was well caught at third slip before Labuschagne, the rookie who batted at first drop during Australia’s last Test against India at the SCG, chopped on for six off 10 balls.

With Queensland teammate Burns back in the sheds, the scene was set for Renshaw to demand selection at the Gabba on January 24 with a polished knock. While he faced more balls combined than the other two who failed, a stagnant front foot and uneasy prod resulted in him edging a ball to first slip for seven.

Sri Lankan seamer Dushmantha Chameera claimed the scalps of Labuschagne and Renshaw and his consistent full length ensured he could utilise early sideways movement with the pink ball.

The alarmingly low scores from the top three certainly won’t alleviate concerns heading to Brisbane where Australia will be tested against a swinging pink ball under lights for parts of the match.

Luckily for the Test aspirants, it is likely they will get a second hit in the match unless the Cricket Australia XI post a mammoth total and Sri Lanka manage to bat for more than a day in their first innings.

Meanwhile, New South Welshman Kurtis Patterson looked in complete control coming to the crease at No.5, as did Will Pucovski, the 20-year-old Victorian prodigy tipped to make his Test debut at the Gabba.

Patterson (41) and Pucovski (22) combined for a 60-run fourth wicket to propel the Cricket Australia XI to 3-85 at tea in the day-night fixture.

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