Former Test star Simon Katich weighs in on Sam Konstas’ theory

An Australian cricket great has weighed in and fuelled a theory surrounding 19-year-old Australian cricket sensation Sam Konstas.

Former Australian opener Simon Katich has weighed in on the meteoric rise of Sam Konstas, offering his thoughts on the young gun’s aggressive approach in his debut Test series.

The 19-year-old, who immediately grabbed attention with his bold half-century on Boxing Day, became a key figure in Australia’s Border-Gavaskar series win after finding himself at the centre of several flashpoints between the sides on the field.

He was involved in a tense altercation with Virat Kohli after a shoulder-barging incident and then a fiery exchange with Jasprit Bumrah on day one at the SCG.

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For Katich, Konstas’ no-holds-barred batting style came as an exciting surprise. But the former opener also says it could be a strategic move from Australia’s management, who were left at a critical juncture at 1-1 before Boxing Day.

Konstas is far more than a pinch-hitter, as we’ve seen from his early Sheffield Shield tons. A barnstorming 56 off 27 balls in the Big Bash for the Thunder convinced Australia he had his eye in.

But it appears the 19-year-old was encouraged to take a leaf out of the T20 book against India instead of knuckling down for a traditional Test opener’s knock.

Konstas is far more than a pinch-hitter. (Photo by DAVID GRAY / AFP)

“He’s obviously got a lot of talent which we’ve seen glimpses of what he’s capable of with his stroke play,” Katich said on SEN Radio.

“But from what I can gather talking to some of the NSW boys ... he doesn’t always play like this. So it’s been a bit of a shock to hear that this is completely different to how he normally goes about it.”

Katich is among some who suggest the upper ranks of Australia’s leadership told Konstas to throw out the rule book and come to Melbourne swinging just to disrupt Jasprit Bumrah.

“I just wonder whether he was given the brief to disrupt Bumrah and the Indians and just go out there with intent and (the mindset that) whatever happens, happens,” said Katich.

“Because there’s a lot more freedom when you’re 19 knowing that if you don’t get it right the first time around, you can go back, work on your game and then fight your way back in.”

To have a confident teenager seeing them like watermelons, well it was the perfect storm for Australia going into the Boxing Day Test.

Katich, who opened for Australia in 56 Tests, said that asking a more experienced batter to take such risks might not have gone down as well.

Katich is among some who suggest the upper ranks of Australia’s leadership told Konstas to throw out the rule book and come out swinging to disrupt Jasprit Bumrah. (AAP Image/Scott Barbour)

“You can’t expect that from a more experienced player that might get dropped for the last time,” he explained.

“It’s harder for the batsmen to try and take the game on, and long-term it’s hard to do that at Test level when the ball is moving away like it is.

“Even in spinning conditions, that will be the next challenge for him in Sri Lanka.”

Konstas’ bold approach has caught the eye of skipper Pat Cummins as well.

Despite some critics accusing the rookie of overconfidence, Cummins has backed Konstas all the way.

“I think people mistake a bit of confidence for bullying or abuse,” said Cummins.

“You’re allowed to walk around with your shoulders puffed back and play a few cricket shots... I think he’s been really good... He’s stood up for himself when he needed to.”

Konstas has become an instant fan favourite. (Photo by Saeed KHAN / AFP)

Konstas wins over the crowd

Konstas’ cavalier antics have made him an instant cult hero, but it has also seen him come in for plenty of criticism from Test greats.

His larrikin persona in the field has been a highlight for crowds at the MCG and during the New Year’s Test in Sydney, but footage that has begun to spread across cyberspace appears to paint the teenager in the wrong light.

One video on Instagram has particularly caused a stir with suggestions from social media users Konstas was performing a crude gesture by shaking his hand in response to the crowd’s chants of ‘Kohli, Kohli, Kohli’.

“Sam Konstas single-handedly taking care of 1.6 billion Indians. Love this fella,” one Instagram user commented on a video.

Another wrote: “Love this guy”.

However, the social media users making those suggestions seemed to have missed the fact Konstas appears to be holding a white hand warming pouch in his hand.

Hand warming packs are typically activated by being crushed or shaken.

Konstas’ cavalier antics have made him an instant cult hero. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

The incident occurred on the opening day of play at the SCG when Kohli was batting with India in trouble at 2/37.

Aussie captain Pat Cummins sent Konstas back to field on the boundary at deep square leg — and his presence brought Indian fans to life.

Fox Cricket cameras caught the hilarious moment Konstas applauded one Indian fan who showed off a large poster that had Kohli’s face plastered on it.

Konstas also continued to shake the apparent hand warming device as the crowd continued to sledge the opening batsman — much to the showman’s delight.

The shaking hand gesture was also repeated later in the SCG Test with one video on X capturing another interaction with Indian fans.

A spectator at the SCG captioned the video: “Konstas fielding in front of the Indian Fan Zone at the SCG and the crowd goes ‘Sam is a wa*kster’.”

Originally published as Former Test star Simon Katich weighs in on Sam Konstas’ theory