Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The player with arguably the most complete all-round CV in Bendigo cricket will add another milestone to his name when the BDCA season hits off on Saturday.
Kangaroo Flat‘s Adam Burns will make his 200th first XI appearance when the Roos clash with Strathdale-Maristians at Dower Park.
With the ball, Burns has taken 471 wickets at an average of 15, while with the bat he’s made 4470 runs, including six centuries, at an average of 30.
Throw in three BDCA Cricketer of the Year awards, two premierships and a plethora of representative honours and it’s not hard to see why Burns is regarded as an all-time great.
“I’m very lucky to have played senior cricket for nearly 20 years,’’ Burns said this week.
“To win a couple of flags early on was great and now I’m enjoying the challenge of helping bring on some of the younger players.
“It’s been very rewarding.”
Others have bowled with more pace and aggression than Burns, but few bowlers have been more feared than the Roo left-armer.
His accuracy and ability to swing the ball has made Burns a nightmare for top-order batsmen, particularly left-handers.
In 2003-04, Burns led the Roos to a drought-breaking premiership with a stunning individual season.
He took 47 wickets and won his first BDCA Cricketer of the Year gong.
In 13 of the past 16 years Burns has been Kangaroo Flat’s leading wicket-taker and six times he’s taken more than 30 wickets in a season.
Burns has also spent one season with Geelong in Premier Cricket in 2006-07.
“I’m glad I challenged myself at the next level and to get the chance to play first XI cricket for most of that season was a great experience,’’ Burns said.
“To take 30 wickets for the year felt pretty good.”
Burns’ proudest cricket moments are his premierships with Kangaroo Flat and with the BDCA at Melbourne Country Week.
“That first flag was great because we hadn’t had success for a long time,’’ Burns said.
“The second one was special personally because to take six wickets in a grand final on the QEO against Eaglehawk is always memorable.”
Much to the chagrin of batsmen around the BDCA, Burns has no plans to retire.
He’s hoping to play in the Roos’ first XI alongside his teenage son, Riley.
“That would be a personal highlight if I could do that,’’ Burns said.
“He (Riley) is coming on in leaps and bounds and he’s playing in our second XI at the moment. Hopefully, I can hold off long enough to play a few games with him.
“Another first XI premiership is another goal I’d like to achieve before I finish.”