He has featured in five Tests, scoring 163 runs.
After winning the toss, the Australia A team decided to bat first in the first unofficial Test against India A in Lucknow. As far as that decision is concerned, it is paying huge dividends. The Australian openers got to a steady start and converted their opening stand past the 190-run mark. Sam Konstas, the fiery opener, has slammed a 122-ball hundred at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Stadium.
The Australians will soon host arch-rivals England for a riveting Ashes series in November 2025. With Usman Khawaja almost fixed to open the batting, the spot for his partner is still up for grabs. Marnus Labuschagne will be expected to make a return to the side, but his batting position will have to be determined. Having said that, Konstas was a part of Australia’s recent tour to the West Indies. He played three Tests, but wasn’t able to go past the 25-run mark. This ton will surely take him closer to the opener’s spot.
To add to that, this innings was a bit different from the usual Konstas type. The opener is known to take the aggressive way right from ball one, something which he displayed in his debut game at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in December 2024. But he was watchful in his approach here. The 19-year-old was on 11 runs off 43 deliveries against India A on the first day. He attempted a reverse scoop in the first over itself, but was unsuccessful in putting it away. Hence, the aggressive opener chose to tone it down.
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Going by the kind of cricket that Australia like to play, Konstas would be the perfect pick for the team at the top. His aggressive style of play tends to put the opposition off right from the start of the game. The Australians can take advantage of his attacking approach. But that does come at a cost. The New South Wales batter might end up throwing his wicket away if he chooses to go down the aggressive route. And this is where the Aussies will have to have their task cut out.
In the recent Test series against the West Indies, the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 finalists played Cameron Green at No.3. But with the likes of Labuschagne aiming to make a comeback, Cummins & Co. will have an important question to address. If Konstas has to take the opener’s spot alongside Khawaja, Labuschagne might have to be placed at three, where he has considerable experience.
But that will mean problems for Green and Beau Webster. Both Green and Webster possess similar skillsets and would then be competing for the same spot. The last thing that the Australians will want is to move Steve Smith out of his position. So he is likely to stay at No.4. If at all, Sam Konstas opens the batting, one out of Green or Webster might have to make way.
Apart from the fifty in his debut match against India at the MCG, Konstas has not been at his best. In five Tests, he has scored 193 runs, 68 of which came in his first Test. But he is showing glimpses of building a steady innings in the unofficial Test in Lucknow. If he can build on this same habit in the next few innings, he could be a serious contender for the opener’s role.
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