Scott Boland explains the Sam Konstas moment of madness that alarmed Australian cricket

Sam Konstas was widely panned by pundits, and in private, sternly spoken to by his own coaches for one moment of madness last summer. But Scott Boland saw it coming.

Scott Boland admits he was stunned when Sam Konstas tried to ramp him in the first over of a Shield game, but believes the chastening dismissal that followed could help prove the making of Australia’s teenage tyro.

Konstas was widely panned by pundits, and in private, sternly spoken to by his own coaches, after the moment of madness earlier this summer where he came out trying to smash one of the best bowlers in the world out of the SCG, only to be spectacularly bowled by Boland.

However, Boland has since watched Konstas closely, firstly at an intensive camp in Brisbane and now on the ground in London as Australia fine-tune preparations for the World Test Championship Final against South Africa – and believes the 19-year-old opener has made clear improvements with his technical game.

Both men are locked in their own separate selection shootouts – Boland with Josh Hazlewood for the final place in the bowling attack and Konstas with Marnus Labuschagne for the one vacancy at the top of the order.

Boland says it’s the first time in 18 months he has been pain free with a knee issue he has been privately carrying and declared he is ready to fire if given the opportunity to follow-on from his decisive performance for Australia in the last WTC Final triumph over India in London two years’ ago.

Scott Boland says he’s injury-free for the first time in 18 months. Picture: Getty

Reflecting on his much-talked about clash with Konstas back in February, Boland revealed the pair had in fact discussed their impending face-off in advance, but despite his surprise at what unfolded, he is confident it may be looked back upon as a critical turning point in the opener’s fledgling career.

“We were talking about it in Sri Lanka (Test tour which preceded the NSW and Victoria Shield match), because we knew that we were both a chance to play that game. We were talking about how we were going to take each other on,” Boland said after wet and wintry conditions stopped Australia from being able to train in London on Thursday.

“I didn’t think Sam was going to come out that aggressive at me. He played some nice shots, but it was only a quick little innings.

“It probably is (a learning experience for him). He’s only 19 years old so I think everything that he comes across over the next few years is going to be new.

Sam Konstas ramps Scott Boland

“He hasn’t played a whole heap of cricket like some other guys have where they’ve played 100 Shield games and have come across a lot of different bowlers and different conditions.

“You can probably see he’s a pretty quick learner. He’s made some little adjustments to his technique and he’s hitting the ball really well. I think he’s going to be an important player for the Australian cricket team over the next five, 10 years.

“… He’s got a good head on his shoulders.”

Sam Konstas gets out

Boland’s heroics in helping lead Australia to thrilling victory over India in the final two Tests of last summer’s Border-Gavaskar Trophy have taken on even greater significance, with the 36-year-old detailing how he’s been battling through constant knee pain which has restricted the number of first-class matches he’s been able to play.

However, as Boland braces for another showdown against Hazlewood, the Boxing Day miracle man says he is finally feeling fit and hopes his series-clinching contributions against India at the MCG and SCG will help him at the selection table.

“I missed the last Shield game (of the season) with my knee being a bit sore. I’ve had a fair bit of time off, so it’s been trying to get my leg and body feeling really strong,” Boland said.

“I feel like I’m in a really good spot now. I’ve had two and a half months of really good prep.

Boland has made an enormous impact in his short stints with the Test team. Photo: Tom Parrish

“I’ve been back bowling for quite a while now and I feel like I’m ready to go. I’m pain free for probably the first time in 18 months, so it’s feeling really good.

“… I probably felt like, the back end of the Shield season, my knee was sort of, not wearing away, but wasn’t going how I wanted it to go and I didn’t feel like I was bowling how I wanted.

“In the past when I’ve been rehabbing it, I’ve always been trying to get my bowling loads up at the same time so I haven’t been able to get it to a spot where it’s pain free.

“It’s been my goal coming into the last two months to just get myself and my body in the position where I can put my hand up and be ready to go if it goes my way.

“I want to make their decision as hard as possible. I feel like I had a couple of really strong games (against India) but Josh is obviously a world class bowler. He’s one of the best bowlers in the world and coming off a really good IPL. Obviously we all want to play, but there’s probably not room for all of us.”

Originally published as Scott Boland explains the Sam Konstas moment of madness that alarmed Australian cricket