Sam Konstas is undroppable for Sydney Thunder after starring as second-choice opener

He’s the hottest batting property in Australian cricket and as Test openers failed in Brisbane Sam Konstas’ brilliant BBL debut could mean even more.

Boom batter Sam Konstas is now a “lock” to keep plundering runs for the Sydney Thunder after a stunning Big Bash debut that only happened because the team’s preferred opener was injured.

Konstas, 19, smashed the fastest 50 in Thunder history, off just 20 balls, in his BBL debut and could even, if there’s “a few failures” in the Test team make his debut for Australia in the fifth Test against India at the MCG according to former England captain Michael Vaughan.

Nathan McSweeney, chosen ahead of Konstas for the Test team, has passed 10 just once in six innings against India including scores of nine and four in Brisbane.

Vaughan said selectors did the “right thing” by not picking Konstas when they chose McSweeney as Usman Khawaja’s opening partner.

But he also said it could soon become irresistible to pick him.

“There’s always a want and a will to talk about what could go wrong in a young player. But I look at Sam Konstas and think ‘they’ve got to get him in quite quickly’, because he has got the ceiling to be world-class,” Vaughan told Fox Cricket.

“You look at the movements, you look at his skill levels, the flow of the bat, the little tricks … He can seriously play.”

“I think they’ve done the right thing leaving him out of this series. I think he’s a wonderful talent and he’s got a huge future.

“But if there’s a few failures between now and Sydney, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him make his debut at his home venue at the SCG … I would think that he could play at the SCG.”

Fastest fifty in Thunder history ON DEBUT 😱

Sam Konstas brings up the milestone off 20 balls! #BBL14pic.twitter.com/Wq6xmQH78j

— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) December 17, 2024

Despite his plethora of red-ball runs this summer, including centuries for NSW and the PM’s XI, against India, Konstas wasn’t going to be the first choice opener for the Thunder, who had slated veteran Nic Maddinson, at his fourth BBL club, as the partner for new captain David Warner.

Maddinson is unavailable with a finger injury, which opened the door for Konstas and now potentially alters the entire trajectory of the Thunder’s campaign, which kicked off with a shock win in Canberra from a near impossible position on Tuesday night.

Warner declared Konstas was a “lock here now”, which means he will be in action against some of his NSW teammates when the Thunder next confronts the Sydney Sixers on Saturday.

“I was really nervous. It’s pretty surreal,” Konstas said after finishing with 56 off just 27 balls in front of his family at Manuka Oval.

“It’s quite special having my family here. Getting a few runs and contributing was nice.”

Great 20 minutes to be Sam Konstas

— Ben Jones (@benjonescricket) December 18, 2024

The teen star now has 736 runs this summer across the Sheffield Shield, One-Day Cup, Australia A and BBL along with his 107 for the Prime Minister’s XI.

Konstas continues to put pressure on newly installed McSweeney as well as veteran usman Khawaja who has also battled against India and turned 38 on Wednesday when he was bowled by Jasprit Bumrah for just eight at the Gabba.