BGT: Excitement Over Youngster Konstas’ Test Call-Up, Says Gillespie
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New Delhi, Dec 21 (NationPress) Former Australian fast bowler Jason Gillespie stated that the call-up of teenage opener Sam Konstas to the Test squad for the fourth and fifth Tests against India is extremely thrilling, urging the selectors to incorporate the young talent into the playing eleven.
If he is chosen for the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne commencing on December 26, Konstas will become the fourth-youngest men's Test debutant in the history of Australia and the youngest player to participate in the longer format since current captain Pat Cummins made his debut in 2011.
"Get the young fella in. I'm never against giving young players an opportunity. Over the last few years, there hasn't been a lot of new blood, given the selectors and the coach value experience over everything else. This is quite exciting," Gillespie remarked on ABC’s Summer Grandstand show on Saturday.
Konstas rose to prominence by scoring twin centuries against South Australia in the opening round of the Sheffield Shield, making him the first teenager to accomplish this since the legendary Ricky Ponting in 1993.
He was part of the Australian team that triumphed in this year’s U19 World Cup in South Africa and also notched a century while representing the Prime Minister's XI against India in the warm-up pink-ball match at Manuka Oval in Canberra. Earlier this week, he became the youngest player in the BBL to score a half-century for his team, Sydney Thunder.
Konstas’ selection came at the expense of Nathan McSweeney, who opened in the first three Tests but only managed 72 runs at an average of 14.40, despite lacking prior experience in first-class cricket.
"Disappointing for Nathan, given he probably did have the hardest introduction to Test cricket an opener has had against one of the best bowlers in the world ... I'm really confident he'll come back a much better player," Gillespie remarked, who recently stepped down as Pakistan’s red-ball coach.
Former Australia skipper Mark Taylor echoed similar sentiments regarding McSweeney, stating, "It's not the end of the world. He's played three Test matches now. He's been debuted, he knows what it's like, he knows where he needs to improve his game," he told 9News.
He also suggested that there should be an opportunity for seam-bowling all-rounder Beau Webster to be included in the squad, considering that Mitchell Marsh has not been utilized much as a bowler. "I think Australia should consider a fifth bowling option. Alex Carey could move up from seven to six, and someone like Beau Webster could come in at seven."
