One of the pieces that are yet to be filled for hosts Australia ahead of the five-match Test series against India, which starts on November 22, is the opening slot. Since David Warner’s retirement, Steve Smith has opened alongside Usman Khawaja but with paltry returns.
Now, with Cameron Green out for the summer and Smith certain to drop to the No. 4 slot, it remains unclear who will bat at the top of the innings for the Aussies.
One name doing the rounds is teenager Sam Konstas.It gained volume after his inclusion in Australia A squad to face India A in the warm-up game. The youngster has received further backing from former seam-bowling great Brett Lee.
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“It is not because he is wearing a blue cap and I am a proud New South Welshmen, but he has had a fantastic start to his First Class career,” Lee told Fox Cricket podcast The Follow On.
“To make two hundreds back-to-back — he has only played a handful of Sheffield Shield matches — but I have kept a close eye on him for the last couple of years. He has come through the ranks and done very, very well from Under 19 cricket to get into the Sheffield Shield squad under some good guidance as well.
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“He has been doing a lot of work with Shane Watson and I am very good mates with ‘Watto’ — he has had a bit of a keen eye on him — and a lot of the guys around his cricket club have been helping him out as well. This guy is an absolute weapon. He is a raw talent.”
Australia coach Andrew McDonald said Konstas was being considered alongside tested openers Marcus Harris, Cameron Bancroft and Matt Renshaw.
Smith, who partners Konstas in the Sheffield Shield at New South Wales, said he would liked to have seen a “little bit more of (Konstas) out here in the middle” but from what he had witnessed in the nets, “he has a lot of time (and) he is very organised”.
“He plays fast bowling and spin from what I’ve seen in the brief couple of times I’ve seen him bat (and) it’s looked really good,” Smith said.
“He’s a bright prospect. (But you have) got to remember he’s only 19 as well, so … he’s got plenty of time. But what I’ve seen so far, it looks promising.”
McDonald stressed that lack of experience would not count against the 19-year-old, who is playing only his sixth Sheffield Shield game, and Lee said it could be argued the aspirants in their 30s were too old.
“Is he too young at 19 years of age? I don’t believe he is. Age is just a number. And the conundrum you have when you talk about age is how old is too old?” Lee said.
“Is a Cameron Bancroft now too old? Is a Marcus Harris somewhat too old? Is Australia better off going to guys in their late 20s and early 30s and hoping for a couple of quality seasons, or are they going to look to the youth?
“I think what they potentially should do is look to a guy like Sam Konstas, because he has a wonderful technique and he is definitely a player of the future. It is only a matter of time, in my opinion, until he plays for Australia. So why not (pick) him now?
“But also, give him the freedom. Don’t say that if you don’t score runs in your first Test, you are out. Give him the confidence (and tell him) that you have the whole Australian summer. ‘Back yourself. (You have) 10 innings.’ I can promise you he will get some runs if he is going in with some confidence. (He) would be my first pick.”
Lee added that, if anything, youth could prove an advantage for Konstas given he would enter the national team without baggage of the past.
“The thing I think is different between him and other players is because he has got that youth, he doesn’t get overwhelmed,” he said.
“Sometimes you can get overtrained and if you overtrain, you can get nervous and you can worry about all those little things that can go wrong. The youth of today just come in and play with freedom. Jake Fraser-McGurk is another guy who is a terrific player who just goes out and sees the ball and hits the ball for six.
“That is why we love youth and the reason I would be saying, ‘Get the guy in.’ But he is not all (about) getting out there and trying to smack the ball for four. He has a beautiful technique (and) he likes to bat time.
“I have spent some time with him recently, just a couple of weeks ago, and had a good chat to him and he just has a good head on his shoulders. He comes from a lovely family and he has had a good upbringing and he has all the makings of a wonderful Test batsman in the future. Whether it is this … series coming up or down the track, I think he will definitely play for Australia.”
