Australia Test selection news: Teen batting star Sam Konstas pushes case after rivals flop in Sheffield Shield round
Australia’s Test batting challengers failed to make a major impression in their respective auditions, paving the way for teen sensation Sam Konstas to further his case for a shock debut.
Cricket
Don't miss out on the headlines from Cricket. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Australia’s Test batting challengers failed to make a major impression on Sunday, paving the way for teen sensation Sam Konstas to further his case on Monday at the MCG.
With a spot in the Aussie top six up for grabs after Cameron Green was sent for back surgery, Marcus Harris, Nathan McSweeney and Beau Webster all missed chances to lay down the gauntlet on day one of the season’s second Sheffield Shield round.
However Peter Handscomb issued another reminder that he shouldn’t be forgotten from the conversation.
With his side sent in at the MCG, Victorian opener Harris survived a bruising first session against a stacked NSW attack only to tickle a rising Mitchell Starc delivery down leg side and be caught for 26 not long after lunch.
Harris, seeking to earn a recall after last playing Test cricket in early 2022, bore the brunt of a pent-up Starc, sporting a nasty lump on his arm before continuing to bat in front of a crowd of around 1800.
Campbell Kellaway (55) and Handscomb (64) put on 101 for the third wicket before the Vics collapsed, losing 5-21 as Sean Abbott (4-50) ran amok in his first red-ball match for the season.
Victoria was 9-259 at stumps, with Starc (1-35 from 19 overs) and Nathan Lyon (1-60 from 19) both overshadowed by Abbott.
At Allan Border Field in Brisbane, South Australian and Australia A captain McSweeney was unable to capitalise on his start, caught behind for 37 after edging Bulls youngster Tom Whitney who finished day one of his first-class debut with 3-51.
SA was 7-287 at stumps after being inserted, with Henry Hunt batting all day to be unbeaten on 129.
Across the Nullarbor at the WACA Ground, Tasmanian all-rounder Webster’s rich vein of form ended when he loosely flashed at Matt Kelly to snaffled by WA wicketkeeper Josh Inglis for three.
Tassie fell to 3-67 after being sent in before Jake Doran led the recovery effort.
Webster, Harris and McSweeney are all contenders for the Aussie vacancy having been named in the Australia A squad to face India A in a series beginning later this month.
Cameron Bancroft began the Shield season with a pair for WA but is also in the A squad.
It is Blues young gun Konstas - another in the A squad - who has the chance to leapfrog the lot of them should he continue the touch he showed with two tons against South Australia in the opening round of the Shield season.
Ooft... Mitch Starc gave Marcus Harris a working over in a classic #SheffieldShield battle at the MCG! pic.twitter.com/20lqLylIpZ
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) October 20, 2024
Konstas will in all likelihood be in early on Monday, squaring up against Victorian veteran and MCG hero Scott Boland.
The NSW first innings will also mark Steve Smith’s return to red-ball cricket for the first time since the Test tour of New Zealand in March.
Handscomb said the ‘G’s pitch had played well.
“I think it’s just a good cricket wicket,” he said.
“Hopefully there’ll be enough in it for the entire game and it doesn’t flatten out too much.”
Handscomb also downplayed any concerns around Harris’ arm.
“He wasn’t complaining about it, which is a first, so I assume that means it’s pretty good. Looked like a nice little egg popped up there. But he’ll compress it, ice it, do all the right things and I’m sure he’ll be right to go in the second innings.”
Handscomb is coming off a strong season with Leicestershire and has started this campaign well too for Victoria. Despite not being included in the A squad, he said he had been reassured by selectors George Bailey and Tony Dodemaide - who were at the games in Brisbane and Melbourne respectively on Sunday - that he remained in the national selection frame, having played all four Tests on the tour of India early last year.
“Both of them said to me that they didn’t need to see me in the Australia A setup,” Handscomb said.
“I still think there’s opportunities there if they come but I’ve got to keep making runs in Shield cricket.”
Originally published as Australia Test selection news: Teen batting star Sam Konstas pushes case after rivals flop in Sheffield Shield round
Maxwell’s Test comeback dream on track after red-ball return
Glenn Maxwell returned to red-ball cricket for Victoria’s second XI this week, and while his output may not have been anything to write home about, the man himself could not have been happier with the glimmer of a Test return still flickering.
Shield Talking Points: How Harris can silence doubters
The race for the vacant Australian men’s Test opener spot heats up with round two of the Sheffield Shield starting on Sunday. Marcus Harris and teen prodigy Sam Konstas lead the way, the question is can one of them seal the deal or will someone else emerge?