Sam Konstas emerged as an impressive opening outlet for Australia in turning the tide against India in their recent series win.
While the 19-year-old Sam Konstas made an instant impact in whites for Australia, ICC Hall of Famer Ricky Ponting believes the young batter has a long way to go if he is to cement his status as a Test opener.
Sam Konstas scored a stunning 60 off 65 deliveries in his first Test innings for Australia, a knock laced with exquisite strokeplay such as a reverse lap for six off Jasprit Bumrah. He was added to the squad in place of Nathan McSweeney, who was only able to score 72 runs in the first three Tests. Both Sam Konstas and McSweeney have been included in Australia’s squad for the two-Test series in Sri Lanka.
Sam Konstas swashbuckling innings on the opening day at MCG sets the base for huge Australian total and sets the tone for BGT 2024-25
Australia ended Day 2 of the IND vs AUS 4th Test at a score of 311/6 wherein Australian batters Steve Smith, Sam Konstas, Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne ended up scoring fifties. The Indian bowlers looked clueless throughout the day and it was pacer Jasprit Bumrah once again only leading the charge for Rohit Sharma and Co with the ball.
Jasprit Bumrah has been among the most difficult bowlers for the Australian batters in the series as of now, debutant Sam Konstas played some unorthodox shots against the lead Indian bowler. The latter played ramps and reverse sweep against the leading wicket-taker of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 series ended up playing an innings of 60 runs from 65 balls.
Sam Konstas, making his debut for Australia, left even the likes of Jasprit Bumrah—widely considered the best pacer in all formats—speechless with his fearless and aggressive approach. His audacity to take on India’s premier fast bowlers, including Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, not only rattled the Indian team but also visibly frustrated Virat Kohli. One of the standout moments was Sam Konstas’s ramp shot for four, a stroke that immediately highlighted his immense natural talent and confidence.
Though Sam Konstas’s innings eventually ended at 60 off 65 balls, dismissed by Ravindra Jadeja’s left-arm spin, his impact on the game was undeniable. His fearless shot-making and ability to take on India’s top-tier pacers left an indelible mark on the contest. Shastri, acknowledging that Sam Konstas would likely have his fair share of failures due to his aggressive style, emphasized that the young opener was “born to entertain” and could become a key figure for Australia if he maintained his fearless approach.
Former cricketers and living legends, Ricky Ponting and Ravi Shastri, have reviewed the exploits of Sam Konstas in the recently-concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 series, where the Australian teenager grabbed headlines for various reasons. From becoming the first cricketer to smash Jasprit Bumrah for a six in Tests after a period of 4400+ balls, the exciting opener was indulged in heated exchanges with some of the Indian cricketers, especially Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah.
Irrespective of all the controversial moments throughout the series, it is a proven fact that the Australian is one of the most exciting talents all over the globe right now.
Ravi Shastri makes big admission about Australian youngster’s Sam Konstas impact in BGT 2024-25
Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has admitted that young Australian opening batter Sam Konstas flustered India with his debut knock in the Boxing Day Test of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Melbourne. Shastri, however, advised the 19-year-old to focus a lot more on scoring runs.
Sam Konstas stunned India with 60 off 65 balls during his famous Test debut at the MCG. However, during the match he was also involved in a heated exchange with Virat Kohli after the Indian star shoulder-barged him. In the next Test, he tried to get under the skin of Jasprit Bumrah, which led to another verbal altercation.
Speaking on the ICC Review show, Shastri admitted that Konstas was successful in upsetting India’s plans with his aggressive knock on debut in Melbourne. At the same time, he advised the youngster against over-exuberance.
“I think it was more the exuberance of youth. He was like a cat on a hot tin roof. He wanted to announce himself straight away. There was a lot of talk. He’s someone who’ll take the attack to the opposition. And he wanted to walk the talk. And he did that,” Shastri commented.
“He flustered India, there’s no doubt about that, in Melbourne. But my advice to him would be ‘you’ve got talent, the focus should be on scoring runs more than anything else’. You focus on your strengths. You play the way you want,” the 62-year-old went on to add.
While Sam Konstas slammed a game-defining half-century in the first innings in Melbourne, he ended BGT 2024-25 with scores of 8, 23 and 22.
“I think the tour of Sri Lanka in many ways will help” – Ravi Shastri on Sam Konstas
Having thumped India 3-1 to seal their place in their World Test Championship (WTC) final, the Aussies will now take on Sri Lanka in a two-match away Test series. Shastri believes that the tour of the island nation will help the youngster mature. He stated:
“I think the tour of Sri Lanka in many ways will help. Getting out of Australia, playing overseas, and then getting to learn a lot of other things and maturing.”
On the other hand, former Australian captain Ricky Ponting opined that Konstas cannot survive at the Test level by batting in the manner that he did at the MCG against India. He urged the 19-year-old to learn from his experience on the big stage and figure out a way to succeed in international cricket in the long run. Ponting said on the ICC Review show:
“I don’t think he can survive as a Test opening batsman playing like that all the time. So he will learn a lot from the first couple of games that he played as a batsman, but just as an international sportsman as well, I think he’ll learn a lot.
“It’s a big stage and he really enjoyed it at the MCG. But I’ve seen this happen a lot with young players. They come in, they get overawed by everything a little bit, and it takes them a few games or a few series just to actually work out who they are and who they need to be successful international players,” the Aussie legend concluded.
Sam Konstas replaced Nathan McSweeney in Australia’s Test squad for BGT 2024-25 after the latter managed only 72 runs from the first three Tests. Both Sam Konstas and McSweeney have been included in the squad for the two-Test series in Sri Lanka.