Former Australian wicketkeeper Brad Haddin has urged selectors to allow Sam Konstas to play for NSW, rather than keeping him on the tour to Sri Lanka.
Konstas is all but certain to miss the second Test of the series, which starts in Galle on Thursday, having been controversially omitted for the first Test to accommodate Travis Head’s move to open the batting.
The 19-year old sensation made a whirlwind start to his Test career in the summer’s series victory over India, clubbing a memorable debut half-century on Boxing Day and averaging 28.25 at the top of the order across two Tests.
Haddin believes his development would be furthered more by opening for the Blues in their first Sheffield Shield match of the season resumption, against Queensland at the Gabba on Saturday, than by remaining a reserve for the rest of the tour.
“We’ve got to remember he is 19, so if they’re not using him for the second Test I would send him home to play state cricket,” Haddin said of Konstas.
“He hasn’t played a lot [of first-class cricket], and the more he plays the better.
“He would’ve had a good couple of weeks over there learning – if he’s not going to be needed, send him back home to bat.”
Sam Konstas ramps Jasprit Bumrah during the Boxing Day Test. (Photo by Morgan Hancock – CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images)
Konstas’ rise into the Test team came off the back of just 11 Sheffield Shield games, with twin centuries against South Australia in October putting him on the radar of national selectors.
His fearless strokeplay, including repeat ramp shots off star India quick Jasprit Bumrah, quickly earmarked him as Australia’s most exciting new batting talent in many a year, but several reckless dismissals, most notably in the second innings in Sydney, have led to calls for him to be further tempered in the Shield.
Haddin believes Australia’s plan long before the touring squad for the Sri Lanka series was picked was for Head to open with Usman Khawaja, with that decision vindicated in Galle as Head struck a sprightly half-century and Khawaja posted a maiden Test double-century.
However, he is adamant Konstas will be back in the team when Head, as expected, returns to the middle order for the World Test Championship final against South Africa in England.
“I think he’s [Konstas] been left out of the side because Australia had a plan a long time ago of how they wanted to play in Sri Lanka,” Haddin said.
“We’ve seen how well Travis Head and Uzzy played at the top of the order, [but] I think he will come straight back in for the Test Championship [final].
“He’s come out of nowhere in the last six months because he’s such a high-quality player and is still learning the game.
“He’s only a 19-year old boy, the world is in front of him. We’re going to see a very good player for a very long time.”
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