Australian cricket crisis deepens as Sam Konstas and Cam Green fail at the crease again

Australia are at risk of losing back-to-back Test matches as Sam Konstas and Cam Green again failed to deliver with the bat.

Australia are at risk of losing back-to-back Tests to the West Indies as the Aussie batsmen struggled again on Day 2 in Barbados.

Much like in the first innings, Australian young gun Sam Konstas looked badly out of his depth as he fell cheaply in the second innings of Australia’s first Test against the West Indies.

The 19-year-old looked visibly nervous as he began his sixth Test innings, and those jitters were on full display out in the middle as he was dropped twice in three balls on zero by West Indies slips fielders John Campbell and Justin Greaves.

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The teenager first charged down the pitch at West Indies seamer Shamar Joseph, but could only manage a thick outside edge, with John Campbell spilling a regulation chance.

Two balls later, Greaves dropped him again,

Veteran Aussie opener Usman Khawaja came down the pitch to try and calm his nerves.

But in Konstas fashion, he tried to relieve some of the pressure with his textbook aggression, charging down the pitch but swung and missed.

In the end, his scratchy innings came to an end after Konstas lazily prodded outside off and chopped a bottom edge back onto his stumps, as his horror innings ended with five runs off 38 balls.`

You can watch his second innings struggles in the player above.

Sam Konstas fell cheaply again in the second innings of Australia's first Test against the West Indies. Image: Getty/Prime

After his latest dismissal, Konstas’ average has dipped to just 20.16 in his six Test innings, leading to cricket commentator Bharat Sundaresan pointing out that the youngster is still a work in progress.

“Guess the fact is this. Young Sam Konstas does still seem to have a lot of technical frailties to work on as a Test opener & also that two of his three Tests have come in rather challenging batting conditions, Sydney & now here in Barbados,” Sundaresan said.

“Still very much work in progress.”

While Australian Test cricketer Bryce McGain wan’t kind in his assessment of Konstas’ latest performance.

“They haven’t failed but 3-22 in the first innings and 4-65 in the second. They have really struggled (at the top),” McGain said.

“Konstas was the hard watch. He was dropped twice in the second innings. First time was at the eighth ball he faced, then it was a grind.

“Usman has said something like ‘just be here’. It’s not that he’s not up to the level but for me it’s a not yet.

“There’s not an enormous body of work behind them at first-class level. It’s a hard watch.

“This has not gone as they (selectors) will have anticipated.”

Australia's Sam Konstas is bowled by West Indies' Shamar Joseph on day two. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)

And the latest horror show led to fans questioning if it was the right move to rush him back into the team for the struggling Marnus Labuschagne.

And fans questioned whether his incredible Boxing Day knock, where he took Jasprit Bumrah to all parts of the ground, was the reason he earned such a quick recall, which ended in scores of 3 and 5.

“Sam Konstas gone for 5. That’s the worst 5 I think I’ve ever seen. But that knock on Boxing Day … warra ripper,” one fan wrote after the young Aussie was dismissed.

“His technique is just not good. He can’t play off the back foot and his elbow is far too high,” another added.

“Konstas is not Test cricket ready. Doesn’t move his feet,” a third wrote.

7.30am- Stumps on Day 2

The story of the day is Australia’s top order struggling again.

At stumps Australia are 4/92, with Travis Head (13) and Beau Webster (19).

Australia leads by just 82 runs and will need their middle-order and tailenders to help them get out of jail if they are to avoid back-to-back losses to the Windies.

Australia's Josh Inglis inexplicably left a ball and it cost him his wicket on Thursday. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)

Wickets continue to tumble

Konstas’ fellow batsmen have also struggled in Barbados, with Khawaja (15) and Inglis (12) also falling cheaply in the second innings.

Inglis was sent packing for 12 after leaving a delivery from Jayden Seales that nipped in and crashed into off stump.

Out of the hands it looked like it was at least going to hit off stump. Only Inglis knows what he was thinking in that moment.

While Cameron Green also struggled again in his new No. 3 role.

After escaping a potentially fortunate LBW review, the West Australian inexplicably flashed at a wide delivery off Justin Greaves, which he edged and was caught with ease in slips for 15.

Safe to say him slotting in at No.3, has not been the instant success Australian selectors would have hoped for.

Since coming back into the team he has scores of 4, 0, 3 and today’s 15.

Earlier

Starting the day at 4-57 in response to Australia’s moderate total of 180, the West Indies were skittled fairly quickly for 190 after 63.2 overs.

After the second drop Brandon King (26) was bowled by Josh Hazlewood, the home side was 5-72 and appeared certain to enter the second innings behind.

But captain Roston Chase (44) and wicketkeeper Shai Hope (48) dug deep to lift them to all-out for 190, giving them a 10-run lead heading into the second innings as they look to claim a victory over Australia in the Caribbean for the first time since 2003.

Originally published as Australian cricket crisis deepens as Sam Konstas and Cam Green fail at the crease again