Cricket world all says same thing about Sam Konstas after ugly scenes in Test final
Aussie cricket fans are all calling for Australian selectors to prioritise the future and select Sam Konstas after the World Test Championship final with the side's top order once again crumbling at Lord's. Australia let a huge opportunity slip on Day 2 of the WTC final with Pat Cummins taking six wickets to leave South Africa all out for 138.
Looking to build on their solid first-innings lead, Australia crumbled to finish the day 8-144 as they watched wicket after wicket fall. And calls are growing for a change to the team heading into the Ashes with selectors prioritising experience over in-form players for the final.
And the biggest selection dilemma going forward is at the top of the order with Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne. Both Khawaja and Labuschagne struggled against India during the Australian summer with both failing against the new ball throughout the test series.
While Khawaja found runs against Sri Lanka on the spinning wickets, he has once again struggled against the quicks. At 38 years old and Australia looking towards the home Ashes series, fans have questioned whether it is time to find a new opener with the veteran getting an opportunity at the WTC final.
While Khawaja has scored adequate runs recently, Labuschagne has not. The No.3 was moved up the order to accomodate Cameron Green's return to the line-up for the WTC final, despite not having scored many runs across the last two years. Many felt Labuschagne's form deserved dropping, rather than finding a position to slot him in for the final.
Labuschagne only averaged 25.36 across the summer, which followed 27.08 the previous campaign. And his latest two scores of 17 and 22 have not filled anyone with confidence he has found form in England.
While Labuschagne took a great catch for one of Cummins' wickets, and was the only one to pass 20 in the top six, he once again failed to save Australia in either innings. And fans are all questioning why selectors are reluctant to move on.
Aussie cricket icon Ricky Ponting suggested before the WTC final that the selectors would show faith in the players that got the team to the showdown at Lord's. This meant keeping Labuschagne and reinstating Green. However, fans are urging the selectors to start looking to the future with the likes of Konstas, Nathan McSweeney and Josh Inglis all showing form at domestic level and asking for a shot. Australia has a test series against the West Indies coming up, before the Ashes.
Regardless of result,our top 6 needs changing for Ashes. Marnus has run out of chances, Green is not a no.3 and Khawaja needs runs in WI to keep his spot.Time to blood Konstas #wtc
— brad davidson (@braddavo) June 12, 2025
Next WTC cycle CA need to make some tough calls. Usman Khawaja should not be in the team going forward and neither should be Marnus Labuschagne who has to earn his place back in the team. Need to back Sam Konstas and Nathan McSweeney going forward.
— Troll cricket unlimitedd (@TUnlimitedd) June 12, 2025
Labuschagne same story as yesterday, looked solid and in control but didn't do enough to score let the bowlers keep hitting good areas without disruption….Smith on the other hand kept himself busy, kept scoring, the bowlers couldn't settle with him
— Tulkun (@imakanksh) June 12, 2025
Was it the last chance for Labuschagne? he's again gone cheaply. #AUSvsSA #WtcFinal2025 https://t.co/SsrhfpNf27
— hitesh (@onedaybharat) June 12, 2025
That should be the end of Marnus Labuschagne in test format.He has been given a very long ropeBut returns in last 2-2.5 years hasn't been good at all.Time for Sam Konstas to take over.Both Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne should be dropped from the team.
— Mathemetically Physicist. (@mathemerizing19) June 12, 2025
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Australia limped to 8-144 at stumps on Thursday after a stunning 45-minute collapse of 5-29 after tea on day two. After bowing the Proteas out for just 138 in their first innings, the Aussies held a lead of 218 with two wickets in hand after the second day's play.
Aussie captain Pat Cummins took 6-28 to help steamroll South Africa, breaking the record for best bowling figures by a captain at Lord's in a Test match. The previous record of 6-101 was held by Bob Willis, set back in 1992 against India (33 years ago).
Australia looked to be in a commanding position heading into the second innings, holding a lead of 74. But the Aussie batters left the door ajar for the Proteas to pull off a monumental upset as they attempt to lift their first ICC trophy since 1998.
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