Sam Konstas can clearly bat. But at just 19, he has one trait very few cricketers have
Sam Konstas is just 19 but possesses a level of confidence and self-belief seen only in a handful of elite Test players, including Michael Clarke, David Warner and Steve Smith.
That’s the opinion of Trevor Bayliss, the Australian coach who won the Ashes and World Cup with England, who believes it is only a matter of time before the batting sensation is plucked from the Sydney Thunder to make an Australian Test call-up – possibly as early as Boxing Day.
The debate over whether Konstas should be handed his first Baggy Green cap against India in Melbourne or Sydney has reignited following Australia’s top-order wobbles in the third Test at The Gabba.
Queenslander Nathan McSweeney, who was handed his debut in the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar series, is seen as the batsman most under fire with an average of 14.4 in the first three Tests.
Konstas became the youngest player to make a half-century on his Big Bash debut when he brought up 50 off just 20 balls in the Thunder’s victory over Adelaide on Tuesday night.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan tipped the young New South Welshman to win a Test call-up this summer. “I think he is a wonderful talent and has a huge future,” Vaughan told Fox Cricket:
Sam Konstas hits out during his BBL debut for the Sydney Thunder.Credit: Getty Images
“If there are a few failures between now and Sydney, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him make his debut at his home venue … I think he could play at the SCG.”
Konstas can keep his name in lights with another dominant performance against cross-town rivals the Sixers at Engie Stadium on Saturday night.
Thunder coach Bayliss didn’t want to second-guess Test selectors but predicted Konstas would be earmarked for bigger things.
“I don’t think we’ll have him for long,” Bayliss said. “Whether [he is taken from us] this competition this year or the one after, I’m not sure he will be available for us for too long.
“What I can say is Sam has a self-confidence you don’t see in very many. I’ve only seen it in a few over the years, and all of those players were outstanding Test players and international players, guys like Clarke and [Brad] Haddin, Warner and Smith.
“It’s hard to explain, but all of those blokes had a certain belief and confidence. Most players have it [confidence], but some guys stand out above the group.
“That doesn’t guarantee you anything, and Sam has got a lot of hard work to get there, and to do well ... but it’s a pretty good start.”
Bayliss said that in his days as a Test coach, a player’s self-belief had been a key consideration when deciding whether to hand them a debut.
“Sometimes there’s a little bit of a question mark over some guys if they do fail – and they will fail at some stage – but have they got that belief they can come back; some guys you’re not really sure about, others you know they’ve got it mentally,” Bayliss said.
Konstas said he was flattered by Vaughan’s praise, but wasn’t looking beyond this weekend’s BBL fixture.
“Obviously I’ll take the compliment ... hopefully I can get the [Test] opportunity one day, and see what happens,” Konstas said. “Scoring runs is my main priority, and trying to back myself.”
Was he expecting a call from selectors?
“We’ll see,” Konstas said. “It would be a dream come true. Maybe I’d get a little bit nervous before the game, but [I would think to myself] I’ve worked really hard for that.”
Konstas averages 58.87 in first-class cricket this summer, including two centuries in five Sheffield Shield matches for NSW.
A tall and well-spoken batsman, Konstas made a point of shaking hands with every reporter before Thunder training on Thursday.
He said people had begun recognising him on the streets around Cronulla, just down the road from his Hurstville home, and revealed how chuffed he had been to open the batting with Warner. He later admitted one of his fondest memories of the SCG Test was waiting around to get Warner’s autograph.
Thunder teammate Daniel Sams, whose brilliant 42 off 18 took a back seat to Konstas’ maiden outing, said: “He’s a really exciting talent, and he’s shown it’s not necessarily just potential – he’s consistently performing now.
“He seems quite unflappable for someone so young. He’s just fearless. We saw what he did against India in the PM’s XI, against some of the names he was up against. He’s seeing the ball and hitting the ball, and the longer he stays in that frame of mind, the better.”
Moises Henriques, Konstas’s NSW teammate, told FanaticsTV the teen would be best served being held back until the Test tour of Sri Lanka at the end of next month.