Burns opens up on tough spell on sidelines and makes football decision

Rory Burns has admitted he will not be seen kicking a football again until his cricket career is over after learning the hard way.

And the opening batsman reckons the ankle injury that has ruled him out of at least five Tests is the price he has had to pay for cricket as a whole to wake up to the downsides of the national game.

Of course the players love it, and are sorry to see it go because it gets the heart pumping, the competitive juices flowing and it livens the squad up before training.

But after seeing their team mate – who is one of the more handy players – forced into surgery following grade three ligament damage, the cons clearly outweigh the pros when it comes to football.

“It’s probably taken something like this to re-evaluate on it,” said Burns who had waited until he was 28 for a debut, but now has two tons in 15 Tests.

“It was an avoidable setback and when you get something that’s avoidable like that you probably re-evaluate whether you want to waste your time doing four months in a gym rehabbing or being on a plane to Sri Lanka.

“I think it almost takes something like this to put it into perspective. What the downsides of football are I suppose, so I don’t think there’s too many arguments from too many places.

“It’s taken four months out of a career and the stage I had got myself to where I was playing quite nicely, so while I am still a professional cricketer I probably won’t play football again.”

Burns was an ideal man to bring a bit of perspective to the Professional Cricketers' Association 10th 'rookie camp' this week where he addressed the latest set of young players entering the game.

Having waited a long time for his chance with England he could talk about the dedication and perseverance it takes to reach the top, and how quickly it can be taken away due to things like freak injuries.

And he will need those qualities to the fore as he looks to reestablish himself at the top of the order after starting the season with Surrey.

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