Latest news with #SamKonstas
Daily Telegraph
6 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Telegraph
Sam Konstas cops brutal truth bomb as tough Australian Ashes decision looms
Don't miss out on the headlines from Cricket. Followed categories will be added to My News. Sam Konstas has been told that even a starring role in Australia A's tour of India won't guarantee him an Ashes debut after the opener struggled for form against the West Indies. On Thursday, it was announced that Konstas will feature alongside the likes of Nathan McSweeney, Todd Murphy and Lance Morris for Australia A next month as he tries to retain his spot in the Test side. It will mark the teenager's first hit out since his horror tour of the West Indies, where he averaged just eight runs across three Tests. Watch the biggest Aussie sports & the best from overseas LIVE on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1. Cricket Australia views Konstas as the next long-term Test opener, but the move to pick him to play in what is effectively the reserves squad speaks volumes. It shows selectors feel the 19-year-old needs more experience under his belt before again making the leap into the Test team. Sam Konstas has been told even an exceptional performance in India won't guarantee him a spot in the team for the upcoming Ashes series. (Photo by Santanu Banik/Speed Media/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) And it was a message echoed by chief Australian selector George Bailey, who suggested even a starring performance in India wouldn't guarantee the teenager a spot in the squad. 'While we'd be thrilled to see that (Konstas make three tons) — and it's a really important tour for us and we're really interested in the performances of players there — there will be some separation and I do think performing across the start of the summer is going to be important,' Bailey said. Also in the running for the Test opener spot are Kurtis Patterson and Jake Weatherald, who featured in the A series against Sri Lanka A in Darwin last month but were left out of the Indian tour. Patterson and Weatherald were two of the form batters across the last Sheffield Shield season and will be looking to pile on further runs early this summer when the 2025 season gets underway. Both will be pushing their case to open the batting come November 21, with Bailey stating domestic form will weigh heavily on Test selection. 'The start of a domestic summer is always critical, given where the Test series always starts, there always tends to be three, four, five rounds of Shield cricket,' he said. Sam Konstas struggled for runs against the West Indies. (Photo by) 'Performances in the early rounds of Shield cricket always put your name up in lights and always help your team off to a good start. 'That's critically important, and I don't think that will be anything different this year, (but) clearly there will be some players where it's about purely performing and putting as many runs and taking as many wickets as they can. 'For some who are already in the Test team, striking that balance right to make sure they're actually performance ready … that'll be important too.' Australia have an incredibly one-sided record over England in Ashes Test matches Down Under over the last decade. England have not won an Ashes series since 2015, drawing two and losing two, and have not won a series – or a Test – in Australia since 2010-11. The Ashes series will get underway on November 21 in Perth. - with NewsWire Originally published as Sam Konstas cops brutal truth bomb as tough Australian Ashes decision looms
News.com.au
6 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Sam Konstas cops brutal truth bomb as tough Australian Ashes decision looms
Sam Konstas has been told that even a starring role in Australia A's tour of India won't guarantee him an Ashes debut after the opener struggled for form against the West Indies. On Thursday, it was announced that Konstas will feature alongside the likes of Nathan McSweeney, Todd Murphy and Lance Morris for Australia A next month as he tries to retain his spot in the Test side. It will mark the teenager's first hit out since his horror tour of the West Indies, where he averaged just eight runs across three Tests. Cricket Australia views Konstas as the next long-term Test opener, but the move to pick him to play in what is effectively the reserves squad speaks volumes. It shows selectors feel the 19-year-old needs more experience under his belt before again making the leap into the Test team. And it was a message echoed by chief Australian selector George Bailey, who suggested even a starring performance in India wouldn't guarantee the teenager a spot in the squad. 'While we'd be thrilled to see that (Konstas make three tons) — and it's a really important tour for us and we're really interested in the performances of players there — there will be some separation and I do think performing across the start of the summer is going to be important,' Bailey said. Also in the running for the Test opener spot are Kurtis Patterson and Jake Weatherald, who featured in the A series against Sri Lanka A in Darwin last month but were left out of the Indian tour. Patterson and Weatherald were two of the form batters across the last Sheffield Shield season and will be looking to pile on further runs early this summer when the 2025 season gets underway. Both will be pushing their case to open the batting come November 21, with Bailey stating domestic form will weigh heavily on Test selection. 'The start of a domestic summer is always critical, given where the Test series always starts, there always tends to be three, four, five rounds of Shield cricket,' he said. 'Performances in the early rounds of Shield cricket always put your name up in lights and always help your team off to a good start. 'That's critically important, and I don't think that will be anything different this year, (but) clearly there will be some players where it's about purely performing and putting as many runs and taking as many wickets as they can. 'For some who are already in the Test team, striking that balance right to make sure they're actually performance ready … that'll be important too.' Australia have an incredibly one-sided record over England in Ashes Test matches Down Under over the last decade. England have not won an Ashes series since 2015, drawing two and losing two, and have not won a series – or a Test – in Australia since 2010-11. The Ashes series will get underway on November 21 in Perth.
The Advertiser
7 days ago
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Tasmanian challenging Sam Konstas for Test spot
Incumbent Australia Test opener Sam Konstas has reflected on a horror tour of the West Indies as he fights to retain his spot for the Ashes. The 19-year-old's place will come under pressure ahead of the summer, with uncapped Tasmanian Jake Weatherald one of many gunning to be Usman Khawaja's opening partner instead. But two four-day games for Australia A in India could give Konstas the opportunity to find form after his confidence took a battering in the Caribbean when he averaged 8.33 across three Tests. "The chat that I've had with Sam since we've returned (from the Windies tour) is that he's reflected on that and he's put a few things into his training," chairman of selectors George Bailey told reporters in Darwin on Thursday. "He's launched himself back into getting ready for India and then playing for NSW. "He's dealing with it well. I think he deals with most things pretty well." Darwin-bred Weatherald is in career-best form, topping the Sheffield Shield run-scorer list with 906 last season. The left-hander then dominated for Australia A against Sri Lanka last month, cashing in with 183. "He's doing a lot of things right, isn't he?" Bailey said. "His performance last year was awesome. "His performance in the Australia A matches was great, too. "A lot of selection is potentially being in the right place at the right time. "So if he starts the year as he had last year, he'll be well in the mix." Konstas will also get a chance to show selectors he can play in Asia, with Australia's defence of the Border-Gavaskar trophy due to take place in India in early 2027. The squad is, naturally, full of spin-bowling depth, but also of batting potential for the future. Victorian teenager Oliver Peake will get another chance to impress, two weeks after the 18-year-old batter made 92 for Australia A against Sri Lanka A in Darwin. Konstas, Xavier Bartlett, Campbell Kellaway, Nathan McSweeney, Lance Morris, Fergus O'Neill, Ollie Peake, Josh Philippe and Corey Rocchiccioli won't play in the 50-over games that follow, returning to Australia for the first Sheffield Shield round. "We've got a Test tour to India in 2027 (and are) trying to gain some experience and get some guys over there," Bailey said. "Repeat entries into the subcontinent is really important." Other Test players outside the current best XI like Scott Boland, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Matthew Kuhnemann and Sean Abbott have not been picked for the tour. Incumbent Australia Test opener Sam Konstas has reflected on a horror tour of the West Indies as he fights to retain his spot for the Ashes. The 19-year-old's place will come under pressure ahead of the summer, with uncapped Tasmanian Jake Weatherald one of many gunning to be Usman Khawaja's opening partner instead. But two four-day games for Australia A in India could give Konstas the opportunity to find form after his confidence took a battering in the Caribbean when he averaged 8.33 across three Tests. "The chat that I've had with Sam since we've returned (from the Windies tour) is that he's reflected on that and he's put a few things into his training," chairman of selectors George Bailey told reporters in Darwin on Thursday. "He's launched himself back into getting ready for India and then playing for NSW. "He's dealing with it well. I think he deals with most things pretty well." Darwin-bred Weatherald is in career-best form, topping the Sheffield Shield run-scorer list with 906 last season. The left-hander then dominated for Australia A against Sri Lanka last month, cashing in with 183. "He's doing a lot of things right, isn't he?" Bailey said. "His performance last year was awesome. "His performance in the Australia A matches was great, too. "A lot of selection is potentially being in the right place at the right time. "So if he starts the year as he had last year, he'll be well in the mix." Konstas will also get a chance to show selectors he can play in Asia, with Australia's defence of the Border-Gavaskar trophy due to take place in India in early 2027. The squad is, naturally, full of spin-bowling depth, but also of batting potential for the future. Victorian teenager Oliver Peake will get another chance to impress, two weeks after the 18-year-old batter made 92 for Australia A against Sri Lanka A in Darwin. Konstas, Xavier Bartlett, Campbell Kellaway, Nathan McSweeney, Lance Morris, Fergus O'Neill, Ollie Peake, Josh Philippe and Corey Rocchiccioli won't play in the 50-over games that follow, returning to Australia for the first Sheffield Shield round. "We've got a Test tour to India in 2027 (and are) trying to gain some experience and get some guys over there," Bailey said. "Repeat entries into the subcontinent is really important." Other Test players outside the current best XI like Scott Boland, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Matthew Kuhnemann and Sean Abbott have not been picked for the tour. Incumbent Australia Test opener Sam Konstas has reflected on a horror tour of the West Indies as he fights to retain his spot for the Ashes. The 19-year-old's place will come under pressure ahead of the summer, with uncapped Tasmanian Jake Weatherald one of many gunning to be Usman Khawaja's opening partner instead. But two four-day games for Australia A in India could give Konstas the opportunity to find form after his confidence took a battering in the Caribbean when he averaged 8.33 across three Tests. "The chat that I've had with Sam since we've returned (from the Windies tour) is that he's reflected on that and he's put a few things into his training," chairman of selectors George Bailey told reporters in Darwin on Thursday. "He's launched himself back into getting ready for India and then playing for NSW. "He's dealing with it well. I think he deals with most things pretty well." Darwin-bred Weatherald is in career-best form, topping the Sheffield Shield run-scorer list with 906 last season. The left-hander then dominated for Australia A against Sri Lanka last month, cashing in with 183. "He's doing a lot of things right, isn't he?" Bailey said. "His performance last year was awesome. "His performance in the Australia A matches was great, too. "A lot of selection is potentially being in the right place at the right time. "So if he starts the year as he had last year, he'll be well in the mix." Konstas will also get a chance to show selectors he can play in Asia, with Australia's defence of the Border-Gavaskar trophy due to take place in India in early 2027. The squad is, naturally, full of spin-bowling depth, but also of batting potential for the future. Victorian teenager Oliver Peake will get another chance to impress, two weeks after the 18-year-old batter made 92 for Australia A against Sri Lanka A in Darwin. Konstas, Xavier Bartlett, Campbell Kellaway, Nathan McSweeney, Lance Morris, Fergus O'Neill, Ollie Peake, Josh Philippe and Corey Rocchiccioli won't play in the 50-over games that follow, returning to Australia for the first Sheffield Shield round. "We've got a Test tour to India in 2027 (and are) trying to gain some experience and get some guys over there," Bailey said. "Repeat entries into the subcontinent is really important." Other Test players outside the current best XI like Scott Boland, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Matthew Kuhnemann and Sean Abbott have not been picked for the tour.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Why Aus A runs won't guarantee Konstas an Ashes debut
National selection chair George Bailey says a standout tour of India for Australia A won't be enough to guarantee Sam Konstas a maiden Ashes Test. Konstas headlines the Aus A side set for India next month alongside the likes of Nathan McSweeney, Todd Murphy and Lance Morris. It will be the teenager's first hit since his difficult tour of the West Indies where he averaged just eight across three Tests. Konstas' dip in form has left the door ajar for another Sheffield Shield bat-off ahead of the first Test against England in Perth. While Konstas will play before the important Shield battle, Bailey suspects 'there's some separation' between scores in India and what selectors may feel will succeed back home. 'I think there's some separation there, I don't think the surface of Lucknow is going to be a great read through to what we're going to get across the summer,' he said. 'Whilst we'd be thrilled to see that (Konstas make three tons) — and it's a really important tour for us and we're really interested in the performances of players there — there will be some separation and I do think performing across the start of the summer is going to be important.' Kurtis Patterson and Jake Weatherald featured in the A series against Sri Lanka A in Darwin last month but were left out of the Indian tour. Patterson and Weatherald were two of the form batters across the last Shield season and will be looking to pile on further runs early this summer. Bailey says the start of every Australian domestic season is crucial for Test selection but admits there will be a few he will be watching closely. 'The start of a domestic summer is always critical, given where the Test series always starts there always tends to be three, four, five rounds of Shield cricket,' he said. 'Performances in the early rounds of Shield cricket always puts your name up in lights and always helps your team off to a good start. 'That's critically important and I don't think that will be anything different this year, (but) clearly there will be some players where it's about purely performing and putting as many runs and taking as many wickets as they can. 'For some who are already in the Test team, striking that balance right to make sure they're actually performance ready … that'll be important too.'
New Indian Express
7 days ago
- Sport
- New Indian Express
Struggling Test opener Konstas sent on Australia A tour of India
SYDNEY: Struggling Test opener Sam Konstas was picked Thursday for Australia A's red-ball tour of India next month, with chief selector George Bailey saying the experience will be invaluable. The 19-year-old, who had a horror time during Australia's recent senior tour of the West Indies, was the only incumbent Test player selected for two four-day games in Lucknow. Test-capped players Cooper Connolly, Todd Murphy and Nathan McSweeney were also in the 14-man squad. A separate Australia A squad was named for three one-day games. "The subcontinent provides many unique challenges and the opportunity to utilise different skills with bat and ball," said Bailey. "We hope repeated experiences in these conditions will assist players in developing an effective method and understanding of their game for future subcontinent tours."
