The shot that made Sam Konstas famous got him into trouble on Monday, as his Ashes selection hopes took another blow.
The 20-year-old was clean bowled attempting a ramp shot in New South Wales’ One-Day Cup match against Victoria at the Junction Oval.
A modest start to his Sheffield Shield season, with scores of 4, 14, 0 and 53, will more likely be the reason if he’s overlooked by selectors as expected for the start of the Test summer, especially with the likes of Marnus Labuschagne and Jake Weatherald firing at the same level.
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But just down the road from the MCG, where he made his name on Boxing Day against India debuting aged 19, pulling out the ramp shot to be dismissed for 20 (16) by Cam McClure will only give Konstas’ critics more ammunition.
The young gun did successfully ramp Scott Boland on route to his seventh first-class half-century last week.
The growing view across Australian cricket seems to be that Konstas needs more seasoning at Shield level – though there are those who maintain the selectors should stick with him given his immense promise.
Statement: Konstas RAMPS Boland for Six! | 00:37
“If I’m being honest I really feel for the young man,” Aussie great Mike Hussey said on Fox Cricket during the opening ODI of the series against India.
“Given the opportunity against India, played that amazing innings at the MCG that had us all gobsmacked. But we all knew that was not a sustainable way to be successful in Test match cricket.
“He’s obviously got enormous talent – but he’s still so young. He’s still trying to figure out what his best game looks like.
“Unfortunately for him, he started his Sheffield Shield season here in Perth on a very difficult pitch for batting. Not ideal to get a big score on the board.
“I personally would just love to see Sam go back to Shield cricket – stay there for a year, two years, score lots of runs for New South Wales, learn about his game and then when he’s picked he’s ready to go, and he’s got a lot of runs behind him and a better understanding of his own game.
“Just want to let this kid go and develop slowly and quietly.
“And then when he’s ready, bang! He’s going to go and burst on the scene and have a huge career hopefully for Australia.”
Konstas’ teammates fell just short of chasing down Victoria’s total of 8-183 in a 36-over contest.
Charlie Stobo (47) nearly led the visitors to victory but was dismissed in the final over by Sam Elliott, with Kurtis Patterson (33 off 41) the only other NSW batter to score more than 20.
Will Sutherland (46 off 44) and Campbell Kellaway (43 off 50) led the way for the hosts.
Elsewhere, Tasmania comfortably chased down its target at Bellerive Oval, reaching 6/252 off 37.5 overs to beat Western Australia (9-248 off 44) by four wickets via DLS.
Jordan Silk (81 off 75) starred while Caleb Jewell (48 off 37) and Matthew Wade’s unbeaten 46 (off 43) proved enough for the Tigers.
For WA, Sam Fanning top-scored with 66 (off 91) but only Teague Wyllie (56 off 51) also scored more than 23 runs, while Brad Hope took 3-40.
At Karen Rolton Oval, South Australia is trying to chase down a D/L target of 120 from 25 overs against Queensland after Nathan McSweeney took 3-12.
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