Middlesex sign Burns to replace Voges

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Middlesex have signed Australia batsman Joe Burns as a replacement for departing overseas player Adam Voges.

Burns, 25, will play for the club from early May until mid-July, covering part of the period when Voges tours the West Indies and England with the Australia Test team.

He will be available for seven County Championship and 12 NatWest T20 Blast matches, before linking up with Australia A on 18 July.

Middlesex will then seek another overseas player for the latter half of the season.

Burns’ performances in the Sheffield Shield, when he scored almost 800 runs for Queensland at an average of 53, earned him a Test call-up against India during the winter.

In two appearances, he scored two 50s but this was not enough to see him selected for the Ashes this summer.

Burns said: “The chance to call Lord’s home is going to be special.

“The club has high ambitions for success in division one, which was important for me. I am thrilled to get the opportunity to contribute to what is hopefully a very successful period for the club.”

Middlesex’s managing director of cricket Angus Fraser added: “Joe is an exciting young batsman who has had an excellent winter and was unfortunate to miss out on Australia’s tours.

“Ironically, it is probably Adam Voges who took his place in the touring party.

“Joe has experience of batting anywhere in the top six, is a very good limited overs player and is an excellent fielder.

“The schedules of other countries and the start of the Caribbean Premier League means that it is extremely difficult to get a player that is available for an entire summer and we are already planning a replacement for Joe when he leaves to play for Australia A in mid-July.”

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