Sam Konstas ruined chance of 70-year cricket history vs West Indies
Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland tore the heart out of their opponents as they rolled the West Indies for only 27 runs.
Despite the shockingly low total, the Aussies could have rewritten the Test cricket record books if not for two Konstas mistakes.
The blunders by the 19-year-old helped the West Indies avoid New Zealand's historic low of 26 runs that was recorded back in 1955.
In the sixth over of the innings and with the West Indies sitting at 6/12, Starc could only watch on as another wicket went begging.
A thick edge off the bat of Alzarri Joseph flew towards the slip cordon where Konstas moved to his right but couldn't hold onto the fast moving chance as it bounced off his palm.
Joseph survived another opportunity in the 12th over, with the West Indies at 6/26, again off the bowling of Starc with Konstas once again in the firing line.
A perfect delivery from Starc caught the outside edge of Joseph's bat and sailed towards Konstas at third slip.
This time the teenager got both hands to the pink ball, but it once again bounced out of his grasp and over his head.
He attempted to scramble and haul it in but it wasn't to be as the ball hit the turf in front of his hands.
If the two dropped catches weren't enough, Konstas' day got even worse when he failed to stop a ball that allowed the West Indies to avoid tying New Zealand's historically low score of 26.
A delivery from Starc once again came off the outside edge of Joseph, this time however it stayed along the ground.
Unfortunately Konstas made a mess of the situation with the ball going straight through his hands and opening the door for Joseph to scurry through for a quick single.
Cameron Green instantly threw his hands on his head as Starc was left shaking his head at the misfield as the West Indies moved to 27 runs.
The blunders by Konstas left cricket fans watching on all making the same joke as many pointed to New Zealand being infuriated by the teen's dropped catches as the Kiwis remained in cricket's record books.
Jamie Wall wrote on X: 'Almost a great day for NZ cricket. Almost.'
NZ's Alternative Commentary Collective wrote: 'Sam Konstas owes New Zealand an apology!'
The Caribbean Cricket Podcast wrote: 'Sam Konstas is a West Indian hero. Dropped 2 catches so we dont break the record for lowest ever Test score. Build that man a statue at every ground in the Caribbean.'
New Zealand's Michael Appleton wrote: "Sadly, it seems like Sam Konstas' biggest contribution in this Test series is to break the hearts of @BLACKCAPS' fans with a drop and a miss.'
Konstas' nightmare day in the field comes after he failed to fire with the willow in a series that saw him accumulate only 50 runs across six innings.
The 19-year-old had one final chance to impress selectors in the second innings but his time at the crease was short lived.
A Shamar Joseph delivery outside of off stump lured Konstas in with a nothing shot as the ball caught the outside edge and sailed into the hands of Roston Chase at gully.
After only five balls Konstas was on his way back to the dressing rooms for a duck.
His series average of 8.33 is the lowest batting average for an Australian opener in a Test tour of the West Indies since 1984.
The lowly display left Aussie cricket fans calling for the youngster to be dropped from the team and send back to Sheffield Shield to develop his game.
Despite Konstas' struggles, Australia wrapped up a 3-0 series sweep against the West Indies.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
5 hours ago
- News.com.au
Wighton cops four-game ban in a huge blow for the Rabbitohs
Wayne Bennett's hopes of avoiding his first wooden spoon have taken a massive hit with veteran playmaker Jack Wighton slapped with a whopping four-match ban after he was found guilty of a grade two shoulder charge at the NRL judiciary on Tuesday night. The Rabbitohs have lost eight in a row and head into round 22 in last spot behind the Knights and Titans on points differential, but their hopes of causing a gigantic boilover against the Broncos have copped a devastating blow with their five-eighth sidelined. He joins a host of stars who are missing for the club including Cam Murray, Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker. Wighton could have accepted a three-match ban for the grade two charge that saw him sent to the sin bin for a tackle that knocked out Cronulla's Toby Rudolf on Saturday night but rolled the dice after he pleaded not guilty. The panel of Greg McCallum and Bob Lindner listened to the 75-minute hearing and deliberated for just 15 minutes before they unanimously found him guilty. 'It was a fair hearing,' Wighton said afterwards. 'We came here thinking we had a good case. We didn't get the result we wanted. 'I'll turn my attention to preparing my teammates and really helping everyone at my club the best way I can.' It was a reunion of sorts between Wighton and judiciary counsel Patrick Knowles, with the five-eighth asking him 'how many games of rugby league have you played?' during a fiery hearing in 2023 when he was banned for three matches for biting. Wighton didn't give evidence on this occasion, a point not lost on Knowles who suggested he could have explained why there were no other options available to him to make a different type of tackle. However, judiciary chairman Geoff Bellew reminded the panel that Wighton had no obligation to justify. Knowles described the contact as a 'textbook example of a shoulder charge' and that he twisted his body, the right shoulder led the forceful contact and that his left arm raised in a bracing motion but didn't attempt to wrap. 'The amount of force generated in a tackle that used no arms carries a significant risk of injury,' he said. 'The shoulder was the first impact and carried the primary degree of force.' Prominent Sydney lawyer Nick Ghabar represented Wighton and argued it was 'quite wrong' to suggest he propped and drove with the shoulder and that he did his best to avoid a head on collision. Ghabar argued that the right arm wrapped around Rudolf's left arm before contact and that the Cronulla forward generated the force by leading with his head and arms. 'Rudolf stepped 'violently' off his left foot,' he said, arguing that it was inevitable that there'd be a more violent collision if Wighton hadn't dipped his body. 'Wighton drops his body height to avoid the risk of a head clash. He's got a split second decision to make. He's attempting to tackle with his left arm but his right arm doesn't have the ability to swing around the back of Rudolf.' The referee's report from Belinda Sharpe included a quote from Wighton that said 'I couldn't get my arm out', while the medical report said the injury was caused by a 'head clash from opponent'. Ghabar suggested that the first contact was shoulder on shoulder, but that played into the argument it was an actual shoulder charge. Knowles refuted a number of those arguments and pointed out Wighton's right fist was clenched so it couldn't have been a conventional wrapping tackle and that he could've twisted the other way and made a conventional left shoulder tackle. Ghabar sought a downgrade that would have seen Wighton miss two matches, but it was dismissed after Knowles argued the force was moderate, it was careless and the risk of injury was moderate and that the risk came to fruition. Wighton will miss matches against the Broncos, Titans, Eels and Dragons and will return in the final round against the Roosters, with Lewis Dodd likely to start in the halves.
ABC News
6 hours ago
- ABC News
Community fights Singapore-style makeover for Mt Coot-tha
The Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games are seven years away but the city is already planning for its moment in the global spotlight. But some plans to refresh local icons have locals concerned. Antonia O'Flaherty reports.
The Australian
7 hours ago
- The Australian
Lyon: England abandoning 'reckless' Bazball for Aussie cricket style
Australian spin star Nathan Lyon says England is transforming its once 'totally reckless' Bazball approach to mirror the win-orientated Aussies and are now playing a style they have championed for the past decade. Lyon has often downplayed England's touted ultra-aggressive style under coach Brendon McCullum and repeated his analysis on Tuesday. England leads what has become a feisty series against India 2-1 heading into the final Test this week before it prepares for the upcoming Ashes in Australia with players including the world's No.1 batter, Harry Brook, declaring his team has been 'too nice' in the past. Lyon, a self-labelled 'cricket nuffy', says he is watching the heated series with keen interest and is noticing a shift in the English way with winning now above entertainment in their goals. 'I think they're just doing what we've been doing for the last 10 years, playing a positive brand of cricket (and) trying to win games of cricket,' Lyon said. 'I think Bazball has honestly changed a little bit, they're now thinking about ways of how to win games, not being totally reckless. There have been several flashpoints in England's series against India. (Photo by) 'The conditions over here, it's always been a great competition between bat and ball … it's going to be challenging for their batters, challenging for our batters. 'At the end of the day and you want to see competition between bat and ball, I think that's crucial … all the fans, that's what they want to see as well.' Lyon was dropped for the first time in over a decade ahead of the final Test in the West Indies for eventual hat-trick taker Scott Boland. But the off-spinner isn't expecting to be carrying the drinks come the first Test at Perth Stadium later this year. Lyon says he is already studying the English and how he can navigate their aggressive style. 'I totally expect them to come out and attack me, I think every touring team comes and says they're going to attack the spinner,' he said. Nathan Lyon celebrates an Ashes wicket back in 2023 (Photo by Ian Kington / AFP) 'I am pretty used to that now, I've got no dramas with guys trying to attack me, it brings me into the game (and) I'm looking forward to that. 'I've got some plans and am already writing down a few things I want to try and put in play and working on. 'That's exciting, that's why you want to play against the best players in the game and they've got some of the best batters at the moment playing in their side. 'It's going to be a good challenge we should all be very excited about.' Cricket Australia confirmed on Tuesday that England would take on a PMs XI in a pink-ball contest in Canberra in the lead-up to the second Test at the Gabba, which will be a day-night affair.
