Smith fires Ashes warning after Konstas’ rapid Gabba exit

Sam Konstas is still finding himself as a cricketer and young man and Pat Cummins has just bowled the first gentle balls of his summer, but Steve Smith looks ready to make big runs in the Ashes if they were starting this week.

A little slow at first as he played himself in, Smith scrounged to 50 then positively skated to a century for NSW against Queensland at the Gabba, taking increasingly brazen liberties against the Bulls on an equable batting track.

Steve Smith salutes for his century.Credit: Getty Images

After playing one handsome cover drive, Konstas shouldered arms to a ball delivered around the wicket by former NSW paceman Hayden Kerr and had his middle stump knocked back.

Though he made a century for Australia A in India in mid-September, Konstas’ scores on home soil have been: four, 14, 40, zero, 53, 20 and 10. The national selectors are due to finalise the Ashes squad at the end of this round.

The Konstas novella, preceded by Cummins’ return to bowling in the nets at Cricket Central in Sydney, was the curtain-raiser for a masterful performance from Smith who, despite taking 22 balls to get off the mark, was largely untouchable.

Smith will need to be sharp if Jofra Archer can maintain the rhythm he showed in taking 3-23 against New Zealand in Wellington about the same time. But the way Smith built his innings contrasted with how a hectic England have been bowled out twice inside 40 overs by the Black Caps.

Jofra Archer’s performance was the highlight in an otherwise grim ODI outing for England in New Zealand.Credit: AP

There were times when 36-year-old Smith looked frustrated across the first 50 balls of his innings, swatting and air-swinging after mis-hits, and seemingly unable to get into the groove – aside from consecutive boundaries to launch his account.

But he was quick to find his mojo from that point. Anything full and near his pads, he flicked to the midwicket boundary, while he was unafraid to get on the pull when Queensland dropped it short.

Perhaps no stroke would have given more pleasure than a lavish straight drive off great mate Marnus Labuschagne – although a lofted on-drive for six, dancing down the wicket to Mitchell Swepson, would have contested that claim.

Smith simply tormented the Queensland attack. Three consecutive fours off James Bazley epitomised the class disparity as he went at near a run a ball for the first hour of the final session.

A deft late cut and flamboyant uppercut helped deliver Smith a 53rd first-class ton. He was dismissed by Bazley for 118 as he and Kurtis Patterson – who brought up his own century with a cover drive on the first delivery from the second new ball – put on a clinic.

Before the season, Konstas added a trigger movement to his game to try to be sharper at the crease when facing pace bowlers. But his results since then have been inconsistent, with selectors noting that the technical changes would take a while to bed down.

At the same time, Konstas has also wrestled with the question of when to go into the hyper-attacking mode that he used on Boxing Day against India’s Jasprit Bumrah – making use of scoop or ramp shots in particular – or when to play more conventionally.

“He’s not totally familiar yet with how he’s wanting to play,” NSW coach Greg Shipperd said before Konstas’ previous Shield game, against Victoria.

“His preparation has been outstanding and disciplined, but he’s still finding the odd occasion in a match where [he has] the urge to replicate those first innings moments [on Boxing Day] and trying to control when to apply them.

“There are times to apply them, but he’s trying to find that balance at the moment.”

Usman Khawaja, Konstas’ opening partner in all five of his Test matches so far, spoke in favour of choosing his fellow Queenslander Matt Renshaw as an Ashes opener on the eve of this Shield game, where the first day was washed out.

“I know if Renshaw is picked that he is in the best space right now to have a crack at Australia again and be ready to score runs,” Khawaja had said.

“He has been in and out of the Australian team and it allows you to grow, as I know from experience. You feel like he is one guy that really belongs at the next level.”

Cameron Green and Beau Webster were each out cheaply in their returns to red-ball cricket following side and ankle complaints. Brendan Doggett (6-48), fancied to be a back-up paceman this summer, had Green taken at cover from a firm-footed drive at the WACA Ground.

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