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19-year-old Sam Konstas has made a strong case for his selection after scoring a hundred for the PM’s XI during the practice game against India in Canberra.
Sam Konstas scored 107 runs in 97 balls. (Image: AFP)
With Australia’s batting being questioned for the poor showing during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series-opener in Perth, a 19-year-old opening batter made a case for his selection at the top of the order, after a sensational hundred against India during the practice game for the PM’s XI at the Manuka Oval in Canberra on Sunday.
Sam Konstas is a 19-year-old opening batter who represents New South Wales and was part of the Prime Minister’s 11 where he hit 107 runs in 97 balls which included 14 boundaries and one maximum.
His knock was not easy as the rest of the top-order batters struggled to keep up against the new pink ball with Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep taking the early wickets in the fifth and sixth over respectively. His only decent partnership was the 109-run stand for the fifth wicket with Jack Clayton and the eighth-wicket partnership with Hanno Jacobs for 67 runs as well.
Despite the unfavourable situation, he looked to take the game by the scruff of the neck, attacking the bowlers despite the swinging conditions with a barrage of boundaries all around the field. He even displayed some of his unorthodox shots as well during his innings.
Konstas has only played a total of 10 First-class games where he has scored 630 runs at an average of 39.37 where he scored two fifties and two hundreds with his highest score being 152.
Australia’s batting has not been at its greatest and the management could consider changing up the batting order by dropping Marnus Labuschagne who has been out of touch for a couple of games on the trot.
One big benefit from bringing Konstas into the side is that he could go straight at the top of the order, maintain the left-right combination and also give Nathan McSweeney a spot at number three where he would be more comfortable playing.
Australia will be keen on bouncing back after the hammering defeat in Perth and Konstas inclusion might be what the side needs to help improve their batting woes and give them more of a chance to win the pink ball Test set to be played in Adelaide.
- Location :
Canberra, Australia
