Sam Konstas sends message to Aussie fans after Labuschagne's brutal axing before Ashes

Yahoo

4 hours ago

Aussie opener Sam Konstas claims cricket fans will see a different person and player to the one that made his Test debut at the MCG last year having replaced Marnus Labuschagne in the starting XI. The Aussie selectors finally pulled the pin on Labuschagne after a drop in form across the last two years saw him struggle for runs.
The experiment to move him up the order and open, alongside Usman Khawaja, in the World Test Championship final didn't help the top order after a second innings collapse cost Australia the match. And selectors had finally seen enough having opted to replace Labuschagne with Konstas in the line-up for the opening test match against the West Indies.
Aussie fans have been calling for Konstas to return to the starting XI ever since his barnstorming entrance to the Test arena. Konstas took on Jasprit Bumrah at the MCG with an aggressive approach, which captured the attention of Aussie cricket fans.
Although the selectors didn't reward the youngster, but instead dropped him for the Sri Lanka series. And the 19-year-old was then left out in favour of Labuschagne for the WTC final. But after the top orders failings once again, selectors listened to the calls and have reinstated Konstas back to the top of the order.
And Konstas feels fans will see a more mature batter when he takes to the crease against the West Indies. 'The emotions probably got to me with the crowd,' Konstas said of his Boxing Day knock.
'It was good reflecting, having a bit of time off to strengthen my game up. I've been trying to focus on a few key areas with my batting coach, and I feel like I've come a long way, so hopefully I can display that in the next few Test matches.'
And Konstas admitted it's nice to back in the side and isn't taking it for granted. 'It's been good training with the whole group and getting to know everyone a lot more,' Konstas said from Barbados. 'Obviously it's a tough team to crack into as we've got legends of the game.'For me, hopefully I grab my opportunity because it's such a strong side and I'm very grateful for that.
'It's a dream come true to be honest, 19 years old, playing for your country, travelling the world. I'm very lucky to be where I am currently.'
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While Konstas' return makes for big news, it's the call to drop Labuschagne that made the headlines. Since chief selector George Bailey took over in 2021 the Queenslander has been in the team. A former World No.1 batter, Labuschagne has only averaged 27.82 in the past 12 months.
And after moving him to opener, hoping it would revitalise his career, the selectors made the call ahead of the series against the West Indies with one-eye on the Ashes later this year. "Marnus at his best can be a really important member of this team. He understands his output hasn't been at the level we, or he, expects," Bailey said in a statement. "We will continue working with him on the areas of his game we feel he needs to rediscover."
Former Australian coach Justin Langer urged the selectors to stand by Labuschagne, despite his lack of runs. "He's actually a very, very important link in this chain," Langer said of the batter.
"You think about the history of Australian cricket. The best young players come in surrounded by absolute guns. Michael Clarke, Ricky Ponting, Damien Martyn and Matthew Hayden. They come in and they're around gun players.
"If you just all of a sudden bring a couple of kids in, Cameron Green's still young to the game, and you have to bring another kid in there (to replace Labuschagne)." Despite the likes of former captain Tim Paine and Langer backing the Queenslander, his form was telling and the selectors made the call with his chances of playing in the Ashe up-in-the-air.