Sam Konstas becomes second youngest player ever to notch back-to-back Shield hundreds

It took some early luck, but a teenage opener has matched a feat achieved by one of the legends of Australian cricket.

Teenage batting sensation Sam Konstas is in rarified air after posting back-to-back centuries for New South Wales in an eye-catching start to the Sheffield Shield season as Tasmanian gun Beau Webster made a Test statement with a ton of his own. .

Konstas, who is only 19-year-old, became the second-youngest player to score two centuries in a Sheffield Shield match, behind only an 18-year-old Ricky Ponting for Tasmania in 1993.

It was his second hundred in three days at Cricket Central and has helped him built a compelling case to bolt into a potentially vacant Test opening spot.

Dropped by Test gloveman Alex Carey when he was yet to score, Konstas cashed in to steer the Blues to a strong lead over South Australia with 105.

Konstas showed his ability to adjust to tougher batting conditions, taking 220 balls to reach his second ton after crashing 17 boundaries in his fluent 152 off 241 in the first innings.

While it was a more subdued innings, he reached the milestone with a booming slog over mid-wicket off the bowling of Ben Manenti for his fifth six of the game.

“I thought today was a bit more gritty,” he said after stumps.

Twin tons for Sam Konstas!

And he brings it up in style! 💯 #SheffieldShieldpic.twitter.com/PsbVeTURf4

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) October 10, 2024

“I don’t record them, I got lucky today, I guess. Stoked to go back-to-back and put a good performance in.

“There’s a lot going through my head, but there’s a few words I try to think of, that’s being ruthless and going it for long periods of time.

“I love the challenge. I want to be uncomfortable.”

Konstas fell shortly after to Lloyd Pope, but NSW were 6-260 midway through the final session with a lead of 366 runs after the Redbacks were bowled out for 260 earlier in the day.

Australian spin star Nathan Lyon snared his 25th first-class five-wicket haul in his first red-ball outing of the season, after he said he had been “training the house down” in preparation for the Test summer.

He said he had “no idea” about the fitness of Test teammate Cameron Green and confirmed he was ready to shoulder any extra bowling load in the five-match Test series against India.

Lyon, who spent part of the Australian winter, during which the Test team didn’t play, bowling for Lancashire in English country cricket, snared two of the final three South Australian wickets to fall on the third day of their clash in Sydney.

The 36-year-old hadn’t played an official match since June and said he was “itching to get back playing” after finishing with first innings figures of 5-47, as SA was all out for 260, to signal his readiness for the Indian series, beginning in November in Perth.

“It’s what I love doing,” Lyon said.

“I feel like I’ve been training the house down and in a really good headspace.

Nathan Lyon took 5-48 for NSW. Picture: Mark Evans/Getty Images

“I had (spin coach) John Davison down last week, so just ticking those boxes with a really big summer ahead.”

Lyon confirmed he would play the opening three Shield matches for the Blues to prepare for the Indian series before having a rest.

Without knowing Green’s injury status, Lyon said he was preparing to bowl a lot of overs against India, whether Green played or not.

“I’m preparing to and wanting to bowl a lot of overs, that’s what I love to do in Test cricket,” he said.

“I’ll do whatever I need for the team, Pat (Cummins) knows that. It’s a long way away, but I’ve got no idea.

“I think there’s enough depth to cover for the summer. I’m counting down the days until it comes.”

Lyon bowled 24.3 overs to start his summer campaign and said there was no limit to how much he could or would bowl.

‘SLUG’ STALKS ALL-ROUNDER SPOT

Centuries to Beau Webster and Bradley Hope led Tasmania to the front against Victoria on a lifeless Junction Oval wicket in a clash almost certainly headed for a draw.

Victoria had appeared to have the upper hand after reducing the Tigers to 4-143 on the second day, but Webster and captain Jordan Silk picked up where they left off on Thursday to pout on 149 for the fifth wicket.

Silk was beaten on the outside edge and bowled by Sam Elliott for 84, but Webster continued on to post his 12th first-class century.

Over his last 20 innings in red-ball cricket, the 30-year-old has posted 1051 runs at 61.82 with six fifties and four hundreds, and looms as a potential option to replace Cameron Green in the Australian side amid concerns over how much Mitchell Marsh can bowl during the Test summer.

Tasmanian all-rounder Beau Webster is a legitimate Test candidate after posting his fourth first-class century in 20 innings. Picture: Darrian Traynor / Getty Images

Formerly a 194cm off-spinner, Webster switched to medium pace full-time last summer in the longer format and claimed 30 wickets at an average of 29.30.

If the national selectors decided a fifth bowling option was needed, Webster, who is also a highly rated slip fielder, would be considered along with WA all-rounder Aaron Hardie for a Test call-up against India.

The right-hander is likely to play in at least one of the Australia A four-day matches against India A, with the first beginning on October 31 in Mackay.

Test spinner Todd Murphy was the best of Victoria’s bowlers on a poor day, claiming the wicket of Lawrence Neil-Smith to have 2-112 from 44 overs.

Marnus Labuschagne, Jack Clayton and Ben McDermott all posted half-centuries for Queensland, but none of the trio could go on as WA reduced them to 8-328 in reply to their first innings 465 at the WACA.

Former Bulls quick Cameron Gannon, who took the vital top order wickets of Matt Renshaw and Usman Khawaja, had 3-52 from 23 overs.

Originally published as Sam Konstas becomes second youngest player ever to notch back-to-back Shield hundreds