West Indies vs Australia first Test: Sam Konstas speaks ahead of his return as opener
Teenage opener Sam Konstas said Saturday he had 'come a long way' from his combative debut against India after winning his place back for Australia's opening Test against the West Indies.
The 19-year-old made headlines in the Melbourne Boxing Day Test last year when he took on fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah to make a blazing debut 60 with a slew of unorthodox shots.
But he only lasted one more Test before being jettisoned with some pundits seeing his batting as 'reckless'.
With a struggling Marnus Labuschagne dropped for the opening Test in Barbados on June 25 and Steve Smith out nursing an injured finger, Konstas has another chance, confirmed as a certain starter.
'The emotions probably got to me with the crowd,' Konstas, who has his Test cap No. 468 tattooed on his forearm, said of his explosive Boxing Day knock.
'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.'
Konstas is set to open alongside Usman Khawaja, 19 years his senior, with an opportunity to cement the position as his own.
Since David Warner retired some 18 months ago, Australia have tried five openers, including Konstas, and with an Ashes series against England later this year they need stability.
'Very excited. Obviously it's a tough team to crack into as we've got legends of the game,' the teenager said.
'Hopefully I grab my opportunity with both hands.
'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.'
Australia play three Tests against the West Indies.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Australian
29 minutes ago
- The Australian
Kin's Classic catch has Jones primed for Group 1 breakthrough
Queensland jockey Angela Jones warmed up for her upcoming Group 1 assignment with a well-executed ride on Kin to take out the Gai Waterhouse Classic (1200m) at Ipswich on Saturday. The impressive ride for powerhouse stable Goldolphin was another confidence boost for Jones as she hunts the first Group 1 of her career after going agonisingly close in the recent Kingsford Smith Cup when denied by a brilliant come-from-behind ride from superstar hoop James McDonald on Joliestar. The victory also narrowed the gap in the metro jockeys' premiership race as Jones moved to 56 wins, just three behind Emily Lang, who triumphed earlier on The Right Way in a Benchmark 78 over 2500m. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! It is fitting that Jones won the $160,000 contest named in honour of racing royalty Gai Waterhouse given that the 24-year-old and Lang are dominating this year's Brisbane jockeys' premiership. Jones said she was 'over the moon' that she could notch a win in the royal blue colours of Godolphin, with top trainer James Cummings about to end his long association with the racing giant before heading to Hong Kong next year. READ: 'He's found his home': Flash Aah springs Ipswich Cup upset She will ride Floozie in next Saturday's $700,000 Group 1 Tatt's Tiara (1400m) at Eagle Farm, where the Tony Gollan-trained mare is the second favourite at $4.60 behind Chris Waller's Firestorm ($3.60), which finished third behind Floozie in last week's Group 2 Dane Ripper. Kin finished just under a length ahead of Countyourblessings ($21) and hot favourite Gerringong ($2.80), which was trapped wide for most of the race after starting from barrier 12. 'I'm very grateful to have rides on these colours, let alone on chances in Listed races,' Jones said about jumping aboard five-year-old mare Kin. 'I'm over the moon that I could get the job done and the blinkers really sharpened her up today. 'We had a beautiful run from a good gate and I thought my job was done when she was travelling so well in the early stages. 'Once I peeled out she had a beautiful turn-of-foot and she put them away quite impressively.' Asked about the Tatt's Tiara, Jones said: 'Sometimes it slips my mind and then I think about it and realise that the (winter) carnival is still here and hopefully we can knock off that Group 1 this year, it'd be great. 'Hopefully we can keep the roll on.' READ: 'That's their Melbourne Cup': Dolan delivers on Oughton in Eye Liner Stable representative Camille Fitton described Jones' performance as 'the perfect ride'. 'Angela has been helping us out a lot and she deserved that win,' Fitton said. 'She does some gallops for us and some trips to the beach so we are happy that she got the win today. 'She had the perfect ride. We were thinking that she (Kin) would be sharper today but she just needed a little boost with blinkers and it just worked out really well for.'
News.com.au
34 minutes ago
- News.com.au
Hinkley frustrated with ‘slow' Port
AFL: Port Adelaide Power coach Ken Hinkley spoke to the media after his side's 71-52 loss against the Sydney Swans.
News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
‘Prefer the G': Collingwood whinge about home game at Marvel Stadium
Collingwood is taking on St Kilda in Melbourne on Saturday night – and the Pies still found a way to complain about the fixture. The Pies, who have enormous pulling power with their Collingwood Army, are universally acknowledged as having the comfiest draw in the competition. They rarely venture away from the familiar confines of the MCG, playing just six interstate games across this season, which includes Gather Round. Of their 23 matches this season, 14 of them are at the 100,000-seat MCG, with another three games around three kilometres across the city at Marvel Stadium. Two of those Marvel fixtures are home games, including Saturday night against the Saints, and that fact doesn't seem to sit well with the Collingwood cheer squad or many of the club's pampered fans. The Collingwood banner ahead of the match against the Saints read: 'A home game at Marvel, we prefer the 'G, this crowd feels like an intimate dinner party.' Poor things must feel lost having to travel all that way and somehow find a seat in the diminutive 53,000-seat venue. Cam Mooney was fired up as he spoke on Fox Footy as the Pies ran through the banner. 'They've just run out, you can hear the crowd, a huge crowd here tonight at Marvel with Collingwood,' he said. 'I'm looking forward to watching Tim Membrey, playing his first game against the old club. 'It's always a nervous one, 10 years, nearly 180 games, three-time leading goalkicker at St Kilda and then he got the sack at the end of the year. 'What a great pick up from Collingwood.' While former key forward Mooney was excited about Membrey, man of those watching on were poking fun at the venue for the Collingwood side. Sports producer Brad Klibansky noticed the banner and tweeted: 'Cheeky from the Pies.' Max Blake joked: 'Spare a thought for Collingwood players and fans playing a home game on the road at Marvel.' An X account called Broice wrote: 'Important road-trip for the Pies tonight.' Anthony Leach was having fun, tweeting: 'Did Collingwood sell a home game to St Kilda? I guess that's what battler clubs have to do to make a buck.' The official Collingwood account tweeted its Game Day Guide on Friday with the caption: 'Our first home game under the Marvel Stadium roof for 2025!' It's fair to say their huge supporter base was far from pleased, particularly as Marvel happens to be St Kilda's home ground. Renowned race caller Bryan Martin was clearly miffed, replying: 'One too many.' Another fan replied: 'Imagine Arsenal playing a home game at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea. That's what's happening here. We should never agree to a home game against a Marvel tenant.' Millane Raymond wrote: 'Home game against a team that is their home ground.' An angry fan stated: 'It's not a home game if it's not at the MCG! I hate when we get a home game that isn't at the G, it makes no sense and especially considering the Saints home is Marvel.' Another fan declared: 'And we are travelling two games in row.' That last fan at least added a cry laughing emoji, owing to the fact the Pies also 'travel' to Marvel to take on West Coast next week. While Collingwood occasionally being 'forced' to play away from the MCG is good fodder for footy fans, some were genuinely surprised by the move. Lachy Mahoney tweeted: 'This game being played at Telstra Dome is absolutely ridiculous. And I'm not a Collingwood supporter by the way.' Another blamed the AFL, writing: 'Why are Collingwood playing at Marvel? Poor from the AFL.' It remains to be seen if the underdog Saints take advantage of the chance to play at their home ground, trailing by just two points midway through the third term.
