Sydney teenager Sam Konstas has an opportunity to further his hopes of a fairytale debut for Australia next month when he bats at the MCG on Monday in what is an evenly poised Sheffield Shield match between Victoria and New South Wales.
Identified by Australian coach Andrew McDonald as one of the four hopes to partner Usman Khawaja at the top of the order in the series against India beginning next month, Konstas will be looking to continue his momentum after consecutive hundreds last week.
Both Shaun Abbott and Mitchell Starc impressed when restricting Victoria to 9-259 on the opening day, with the pair involved in engaging battles with another opening aspirant Marcus Harris and former Australian batter Peter Handscomb.
Handscomb, who has missed selection for the two-match Australia series against India A beginning later this month but remains a candidate for the Sri Lanka tour next year, described the deck Konstas will get his chance on as a “good pitch” to bat on after making 64.
“It didn’t seem as slow as it normally is on Day One here. It almost felt like it was up to a Day Two speed (today) and (the ball) didn’t leave as many divots as it normally does as well,” he said.
“It is a good cricket wicket and hopefully there will be enough in it for the entire game and it doesn’t flatten out too much. We’ve made 260 today, which we feel is pretty good in a day’s play here.”
The quality of Abbott’s bowling in particular sparked a significant collapse from Victoria, which lost 5-21 in 11 overs to squander what had been a sound opening against an international quality attack.
Test aspirant Harris was challenged early on by Abbott but was able to survive the opening session before falling to Starc for 26 from 89 balls in what was a conservative knock.
Campbell Kellaway and Handscomb then combined for a century partnership to steer the home state to 2-164, but when enduring veteran Jackson Bird removed the former for 55, Victoria lost its way.
In rapid fashion Abbott, who had bowled well from the opening session, drew an edge from Handscomb which flew to Steve Smith at second slip to dismiss the Victorian star.
Abbott, who will feature in the ODI series against Pakistan next month, then removed wicketkeeper Sam Harper and Victorian captain Will Sutherland for ducks in a lively display.
Having toured with Australia for white ball series in Scotland and England in September, Abbott found his rhythm immediately against Victoria in the longer format and finished with figures of 4-50 from 20 overs.
With Cameron Green to miss the Australian summer, it is possible selectors will consider an all-round option as a replacement but Abbott said he had not heard anything from the national hierarchy in regards to red ball cricket.
“(There has been) no real messages. We obviously had that tour to the UK, which was nice to win against the English at home,” he said.
“I haven’t really worried about too much else from there. I hadn’t picked up a red ball Kookaburra for a while, so it felt a bit funny in the hand this week at training, but there has been no word. I am just worried about coming out and performing for the Blues, to be honest.”
Nathan Lyon extracted spin from the pitch in the opening session — Handscomb quipped the champion spinner could “turn it on glass” after stumps — and bowled tightly throughout. He was eventually rewarded with the wicket of Sam Elliott, who fell for four.
Handscomb, who said national selectors had advised him not to be concerned about missing the Australia A squad in relation to future possibilities, said the New South Wales attack were outstanding, with Abbott and Starc in particular dangerous.
“They bowled beautifully. I mean, they are both class bowlers, so you know they are always going to be there or thereabouts and not really give you any loose balls,” Handscomb said.
“I was impressed with how both of them went about it. Every over, (Kellaway and Handscomb) kept telling each other to fight and keep getting through, because it is tough for us out there, but it was always going to be tougher for the next bloke coming in.”
Fergus O’Neill, who made 28 from 37 balls, and Thomas Rogers, who required 37 balls to get off the mark but then batted well to reach finish unbeaten on 31, were able to rescue the Victorian innings after the collapse.
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