'Don't like it': Ricky Ponting takes aim at Aussies over glaring Sam Konstas issue
Former Aussie captain Ricky Ponting has taken aim at the selectors for dropping Sam Konstas for Josh Inglis having claimed he needs more time out in the middle before the Test Championship final. Konstas won over Australian fans during the MCG Test against India having attacked Jasprit Bumrah like no batter has before in red-ball cricket.
The 19-year-old has been touted as the long-term opener for Australia with his talent on show throughout the first two matches of his career. Although the youngster has been brought back down to earth with selectors opting to promote Travis Head to opener and drop Konstas from the XI altogether.
Selectors wanted to shield Head from spin when he first comes into bat, which Konstas make way and Inglis earn his baggy green. This was against Ponting and Michael Clarke's advice earlier in the week. And Pointing once again voiced his surprise at the decision during Channel 7 commentary.
Speaking ahead of the toss, Ponting could not believe Konstas wasn't afforded the opportunity to gain more experience out in the middle. Especially when Konstas is expected to be back into the team to take on South Africa in the ICC Test Championship final.
"I don't like it, to be honest. I just expected that Konstas would play and would open the batting," Ponting said on Channel 7. "We have seen Travis head open the batting in the sub-continent before and he did very well.
"No doubt he will look to get Australia off to a flyer and almost bat like he would in on-day mode, but I think there is a real missed opportunity for the Australians here to get to learn a bit more about Sam Konstas. If he is the player we all think he is, I would have loved to have seen him work out a way to play spin in tough conditions in Sri Lanka over the next couple of weeks."
Later when it was put to him again, Ponting added: "I thought Konstas had to play". Scott Boland was also omitted from the Australia side with three spinners preferred alongside Mitchell Starc. And Ponting wasn't the only former player to slam the snub of Konstas.
Former fast-bowler Stuart Clark echoed plenty of Ponting's frustration and claimed it was 'ridiculous' to hand Konstas a baggy green and take it away two Tests later. "Sam Konstas had one of the most remarkable debuts of all time. I can't see why you leave him out of team," Stuart Clark said on ABC Radio after the selections were confirmed.
"I find it ridiculous...he's not going to get any better unless he plays." Despite his snub for the first Test, stand-in in captain Steve Smith claimed Konstas would take plenty away from this tour even if he doesn't make it into the XI.
Smith just about confirmed Konstas wouldn't be selected on Tuesday when confirming Head would open the batting. Despite being dropped, Smith claimed Konstas would learn a lot and used his own experience in India back in 2013 as a comparison. "Just the amount of balls I was hitting in the nets, and the skills I was able to develop from facing loads of net bowlers and things like that," he said. "Whether he plays or not, I think it's going to be a wonderful experience for him. He's going to learn a lot."
Head did get off to a brilliant start having scored his half-century in just 35 balls as he looked to take on the Sri Lankan spinners in the first session. He was caught out for 57 off 40. While many could feel the selectors got it right with Head, Ponting and Clarke were not denying the 31-year-old wouldn't score runs. Instead they claimed Konstas needed more experience opening at international level.
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