Sam Konstas’ mentor Shane Watson on why batting prodigy is ready for Test cricket

Shane Watson has mentored Sam Konstas for years on the batting prodigy’s rise to Test cricket. Now, the former Aussie all-rounder says now is the perfect time for the teenager to debut.

At a time when Australia’s top order has been under siege, Sam Konstas has been advised by his mentor to play without fear in the Boxing Day Test.

Shane Watson has been a sounding board for Konstas since he was a young teenager coming through the ranks, with the young batsman the beneficiary of lessons the former Test great learnt from his own career, particularly in regards to the mental resilience needed to tame Mother Cricket.

By his own admission, Watson says his mind would have been racing uncontrollably at the prospect of making a debut at the MCG in front of nearly 100,000 people, but believes that won’t be the case for a run-scoring prodigy who “bats like most people dream of batting”.

“That fearless way of batting. For a young man to be able to have that confidence and skill and discipline to be able to maintain that ball after ball, to me, it’s no surprises in a way that he’s been able to continue to perform when he needs to,” Watson told this masthead.

“As I mentioned to him, now it’s like, this is set up for him. It’s like he’s got nothing to lose, which is how he’s been playing.

Shane Watson has been a mentor for Sam Konstas.

Konstas batting for the Prime Minister’s XI against India.

“Where it’s at, the situation of the series, if he gets an opportunity to come in — the top order hasn’t really been doing that well anyway, so he has nothing to lose.

“If he just frames it in that way instead of the opposite, which is, ‘Oh gosh, this is my opportunity, I’ve got to make the most of it, don’t get out, don’t stuff up’.

“And that’s what I did, you would tighten up and really sort of freeze, whereas he just needs to shift it to be able to reframe things and maintain that reframing throughout the lead-up to the game and then through it.

“It doesn’t guarantee you’re going to score runs, but you give yourself the best chance.”

Konstas takes off for a run batting for New South Wales. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

Watson was man-of-the-match in the 2009 Boxing Day Test opening the batting in Pakistan, where he scored 93 and 120 not out.

As one of Australia’s great all-rounders, Watson is now finding renewed enjoyment and pride in watching Konstas’ journey and shared a joyful conversation with his protégé on Friday after his Test selection was confirmed.

Watson has written a book (The Winner’s Mindset) as well as an online course about harnessing the powers of the mind for young cricketers, and Konstas has inadvertently been a live case study for how effective the mental methods can be.

Another ton for Sam Konstas! 🔥

A sublime knock by the teenager against India #PMXIvINDpic.twitter.com/hZOnuRYbB8

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 1, 2024

Now they are set to be put to the ultimate test at the MCG on Boxing Day against Indian fast bowling genius, Jasprit Bumrah.

“I think he’ll handle it as well as any 19-year-old could. He’s as well equipped if not better equipped than anyone to be able to harness the situation in the Boxing Day Test in front of a huge crowd and just being able to zero back into the most important things when he’s out in the middle,” Watson said.

Here's every boundary from Sam Konstas' debut knock, 56 runs from just 27 deliveries 🔥 #BBL14https://t.co/kSnvyNPuyMpic.twitter.com/NQNa7UG2gI

— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) December 17, 2024

“That never guarantees you runs at all but it means you help set yourself up to give yourself the best chance.

“You hear players and coaches talk about Sam and it’s like he’s got this confidence. And it’s certainly not an arrogance at all, it’s just this inner confidence. And that’s where he then is able to maintain that evenness whether it’s on or off the field.

“He knows when to turn it on.”

Although a debut looms likely for Konstas at the MCG, selectors are yet to confirm the batting line-up, with Josh Inglis still in contention as well.

Watson said he is a big fan of Inglis, but feels Konstas is best suited to the specialised role opening the batting, given he made a hundred against two thirds of the Indian attack a fortnight ago in the Prime Minister’s XI match in Canberra.

“In my mind, yes. If they’ve dropped McSweeney then I see it’s the perfect opportunity to bring Sam in, and that’s nothing against Josh Inglis. I’ve got the highest regard for him, he’s so incredibly good,” said Watson, who will fly to Melbourne to watch Konstas on day two after commentating the BBL for Fox Cricket on Boxing Day evening.

“Being able to have someone who is ready-made. (Konstas) has played India. I know it was a 50-over game and it wasn’t Jasprit Bumrah, but he had some success against a few of their bowlers.

“I think that’s the mental advantage a little bit just with that performance. I think that would give him the edge a little bit.

“That’s what selectors are looking for, that little bit of an edge that unfortunately the top order hasn’t had yet. But also everyone has to put into perspective that Jasprit Bumrah is very good.”

Originally published as Sam Konstas’ mentor Shane Watson on why batting prodigy is ready for Test cricket