Sam Konstas’ mother Pamela joins player partners on tour ahead of World Test Championship final
Mother’s Day has come late for Pamela Konstas. Cricket Australia has made a special allowance to let Sam Konstas pull off a heartwarming gesture for his mother.
Mother’s Day has come late for Pamela Konstas.
While cricketers bring their wives and girlfriends on tour, 19-year-old star Sam Konstas has brought his mother to London ahead of the World Test Championship.
This week is the official player partner period for the team – an annual block written into the MOU where the game pays for the significant others and children of players and staff to come overseas on tour.
Cricket Australia has made a special allowance for Konstas to bring his mother, who has sacrificed so much for her son to realise his boyhood dream.
“It means a lot. Mum’s coming tomorrow and it’s good to have family supporting me even though I’m in a different country, which is a bit rare for them,” Konstas said.
“They’ve sacrificed a lot and it’s good to share this journey with them.
“She came to South Africa for the 19s world cup. She loved that. She went on a safari. She loves going on trips.
“I’m grateful she’s here and for my parents’ support. But obviously I’m also learning from the other players being more mature and being more independent.”
By his own admission, Konstas found his stunning Test debut a whirlwind as his cavalier batting captured the interest of the Australian sporting public.
When the dust settled, Konstas relished the chance to return to his family home in Hurstville and enjoy his mother’s cooking and a normal life.
“Yeah definitely. I felt like it was good to just reset my mind, talk to my family and go out with my friends,” Konstas said.
“It was more relaxed and I actually got to reflect on all the achievements I had for that year. I was super thrilled with what happened and it was good to just reassess and try and build on things to improve on with my technical and mental side and if I can implement that to future games.”
Konstas seems unlikely to force his way into the Australian XI for the World Test Championship Final, but there is a desire to get him back into the opening slot for the Ashes.
Fitting into life on the road with the Australian cricket team has been largely seamless for the easygoing Konstas aside from one thing – the golf culture.
Previously, Konstas had only ever been an occasional golfer, hacking it around Bexley golf club in Sydney’s south with mates a couple of times a year.
Suddenly he’s touring the most prestigious courses in Scotland with teammates who play off single figure handicaps and are obsessed with the sport.
“My golf game is not the best. I’m not a big golfer but the boys love it,” Konstas said.
“We were in Scotland for five days and we played at the best courses which was awesome.
“My technique is not the best. I don’t like to get too phased about that.
“I did enjoy it for the first day and then I didn’t play as good the second day so I decided to stop.
“It is (a bit intimidating). You feel the pressure as well. The boys give me a bit of stick about my technique – I can’t hit them.”
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