AW Green Shield 2021/22: Top runscorers Sam Konstas, Riley Kingsell, Sid Singh

Talented batters have lit up the prestigious AW Green Shield with the competition heating up to join the company of Australian Test captain Pat Cummins. Meet the top 10 runscorers so far:

The AW Green Shield is one of the world’s most prestigious under-16 cricket competitions, providing a launch pad to some of NSW’s finest cricketers including Test stars Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc and David Warner.

The battle to top the individual run scoring charts is fiercely contested each summer by the best junior cricketers in the state, with those who have previously enjoying the honour including current Test captain Pat Cummins for Penrith in 2008/09 (351 runs with a 58.5 average) and NSW Blues’ Kurtis Patterson for St George in 2007/08 (443 runs with a 88 average).

After five rounds in the 2021/22 AW Green Shield competition, the battle is heating up to be the tournament’s leading run scorer.

Sam Konstas. Picture: Jeremy Ng

St George’s Sam Konstas is currently in front and hasn’t been dismissed for anything less than a half century so far, recording scores of 141*, 78, 68, 87* and 52 at better than a run a ball, for 426 runs and an average of 142.

Konstas, 16, who lives a minute away from Hurstville Oval, said keeping a simple mindset at the crease has contributed to his strong batting performances.

“I try to focus on a routine such as breathing when batting which resets me after every ball,” he said. “As a mindset perspective, I always like to have intent and put pressure on the opposition.”

The Cranbrook School student is mentored by former Test opening batter Shane Watson.

A dominant AW Green Shield campaign is not unfamiliar territory for Konstas who belted two centuries and two half centuries last summer to finish second on the run scoring charts with 427 runs at an average of 71.17.

Campbelltown-Camden’s Riley Kingsell in action. Picture: Anthony Campbell

Campbelltown-Camden’s Riley Kingsell is currently second on the run scoring charts with 392 runs in four innings, after one of his matches was abandoned due to rain.

The teenage batter’s lowest score has been 70, scored in the opening round, and most recently peeled off a century against Konstas’ St George on Tuesday.

Kingsell said he never imagined his third AW Green Shield campaign would be so successful.

“I hoped this AW Green Shield season would go so well with all the work that myself and the team had put in during the off season … but I never dreamt it would actually be this successful,” he said. “I’m hoping it continues.”

Gordon captain Sid Singh. Picture: Tony Wilson

Kingsell, the son of three-time Olympian Sarah Ryan, said a combination of hard work, a supportive team environment and an improved mental game has seen the results flow this summer.

For 15-year-old Gordon captain Sid Singh, who is averaging 78.5 runs with the bat and currently third in the competition’s run scoring charts, an increase in training and frequent backyard drills has paid off.

“In lockdown it was hard to train with mates so I was doing drills in the backyard or garage,” he said. “Every little thing helps.”

The competition will resume on Thursday.

TOP 10 RUN SCORERS SO FAR …

1. Sam Konstas (St George) – 426 runs – 101.43 average

2. Riley Kingsell (Campbelltown-Camden) – 332 runs – 83 average

3. Sidhant Singh (Gordon) – 314 runs – 78.5 average

4. Sam Weir (Northern District) – 239 runs – 79.67 average

5. Jake Smith (Bankstown) – 238 runs – 59.5 average

6. Addison Sherrif (Sydney) – 230 runs – 76.67 average

7. Harry Scowen (St George) – 230 runs – 57.5 average

8. Jake Hutchings (Manly) – 224 runs – 56 average

9. Leo Astill (Penrith) – 219 runs – 54.75 average

10. Lachlan Ritchie (Sutherland) – 219 runs – 73 average