Australia’s newest batting prodigy is about to be put on the path to the Test team with 19-year-old New South Wales opener Sam Konstas set to be named in the Australia A squad for the upcoming series against India A.
Konstas made a breathtaking start to the Sheffield Shield season last week with twin centuries against South Australia to become the youngest player to do so since Ricky Ponting.
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It was reported by The Age’s Daniel Brettig that several senior members of the Australian hierarchy made it clear Konstas would be chosen for the two match series of four-day games which will be played at Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay and the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
The right-hander also has the opportunity to showcase his talents in the spotlight with NSW to take on Victoria in a blockbuster Shield clash at the MCG starting on Sunday where the Test incumbents Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon and Steve Smith are all expected the stay.
Konstas – who was member of this year’s triumphant Under 19 World Cup team – has been highly regarded for some time despite still being in his teens.
Fox Cricket commentator Kerry O’Keefe touted him as a potential replacement for David Warner last summer, while Brad Haddin has been full of praise for him on the Willow Talk podcast for some time – largely due to Shane Watson being his mentor from their connection through Sutherland Cricket Club in Sydney grade cricket.
The calls for him to be awarded a baggy green are growing louder off the back of his demolition of South Australia and the reports of Cameron Green’s back injury opening up a spot in Australia’s top order.
Australian legend Doug Walters has called for him to be picked for the first Test against India at Optus Stadium next month, and prominent cricket journalist Peter Lalor shares that view.
The indication is that Steve Smith no longer wants to open the batting after filling the void left by Warner in Australia’s four most recent Tests, and Konstas would be able to slot straight into that position and jump the queue ahead of the tried-and-tested trio of Matt Renshaw, Marcus Harris and Cameron Bancroft .
He will face stiff competition in the Australia A bat-off however, with two other players who started the Shield season with centuries also set to be included and they provide selectors George Bailey, Andrew McDonald and Tony Dodemaide with different configuration options.
Beau Webster is set to be rewarded for opening his campaign with a hundred against Victoria after plundering 938 runs at 58.62 as well as taking 30 wickets at 29.30 with his combination of right-arm medium pace and off-spin last summer to be the Shield’s player of the season.
Webster’s all-round abilities presents him as a like-for-like replacement for Green, but he is primarily deployed at number six for Tasmania which would mean Smith staying at the top or any of Marnus Labuschagne, Travis Head or Mitch Marsh moving up to take on the new ball.
South Australian captain Nathan McSweeney is also set to be chosen for Australia A to present another middle order option.
The 25-year-old averages 36.61 in First Class cricket but enjoyed an impressive partnership with Australian wicket keeper Alex Carey as they both scored centuries in the fourth innings to hold on for a draw against NSW spin pairing Lyon and Tanveer Sangha.
That showing against spin and more of it against India A may earn him a ticket to Sri Lanka for the two-Test series in February.
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