Is Sam Konstas Finding His Footing in International Cricket?

St George's, July 8 (NationPress) Australia's head coach Andrew McDonald believes that the struggling opening batter Sam Konstas is still finding his footing in the international cricket scene, and his performance in the second Test against West Indies marked a positive development.

McDonald emphasized that there will be a significant opportunity for players to showcase their skills for Ashes selection through early-season domestic matches and Australia A fixtures.

In Grenada, Konstas managed to score 25 runs in the first innings but unfortunately received a duck during a brief appearance at the crease late on the second day. He is anticipated to participate in the final Test at Sabina Park, which will also be the venue's inaugural day-night Test, giving him a chance to conclude strongly and bolster his chances for a spot in the upcoming home Ashes series.

“After four games and eight innings, it’s still early for anyone to make definitive judgments. The challenges in Test cricket are not solely about skill or technique; they also involve handling pressure and the surrounding circumstances. He’s a player still adjusting to the environment,” McDonald commented on Konstas' initial Test journey.

“His first innings was a small step forward. I was impressed with the way he set up his first 20 balls, showing positive intent and moving better compared to the previous game, where he seemed indecisive between being overly aggressive or overly defensive,” he added.

Konstas is expected to participate in the four-day Australia A matches during the tour to India in late September, followed by his availability for the opening rounds of the Sheffield Shield in early October, with four rounds likely to occur before the Ashes commence.

“There are great opportunities in domestic cricket at the start of the season, especially leading into any Test series. Last year’s Border-Gavaskar Trophy provided players with a chance to step up. We’re also keeping a close watch on Australia A (against Sri Lanka A) in the Top End (Darwin), so it’s all about the opportunities that arise,” McDonald stated.

“Right now, our focus is on the present. While speculation about who might come in is natural, we are confident in the players we have here,” McDonald said.

Before the tour, McDonald acknowledged that it might be challenging to draw strong comparisons between this series and the upcoming Ashes - a sentiment he maintains, even though the matches have been heavily influenced by pace rather than spin.

“We’ve seen a lot of variable bounce and lateral movement, which likely doesn’t mirror conditions in Australia. However, some surfaces might. I think Perth could produce a bit of variable bounce and lateral movement. But, I believe the initial four rounds of Shield cricket will provide a better correlation to the Ashes than what we’re observing now,” he explained.

“What we are witnessing here, however, is players being tested at the Test level, and within that experience, the mental hurdles of Test cricket are very real,” he concluded.