Sam Konstas’ brief Sheffield Shield innings against Victoria reveals concerning signs for Australian selectors

Sam Konstas insists there are more layers to his game than ramping against the new ball. But as BEN HORNE writes, his rogue approach is fast becoming a headache for Australian selectors.

Sam Konstas risks becoming a casualty of rampitis after 10 minutes of mayhem at the SCG.

Selectors are beginning to narrow their focus towards who will open the batting for the World Test Championship Final at Lord’s in June, and it’s difficult to know where Konstas stands after a mind-blowing Sheffield Shield innings against Victoria on Tuesday morning that exploded on the tarmac.

The best of Konstas demands he be picked against South Africa and it was a magnificent sign that the 19-year-old returned from the disappointment of being left out of the Australian XI in Sri Lanka to bang out a fighting one-day hundred for NSW against Queensland at the Gabba.

But his seven-ball cameo of chaos facing Test champion Scott Boland which ended when he was bowled walking across his stumps attempting a slog sweep, will have the Australian hierarchy scratching their heads.

Konstas reverse ramped Boland for four off the second ball of the Shield match in scenes reminiscent of his audacious taming of Indian master Jasprit Bumrah on Test debut at the MCG.

Scott Boland eyeballs Sam Konstas after taking his wicket.

Konstas is bowled while trying to tee off.

Two balls later he attempted another scoop only to be hit on the pads, and by the end of the over the scoreboard read 0-10.

Batting partner Nic Maddinson then caught the bug and slaughtered Victorian quick Fergus O’Neill off the second over, smashing two fours and then back-to-back sixes in successive balls.

Next second, Konstas has thrown it all away with another rush of blood and walks off the ground after recklessly exposing his stumps.

Former Test opener and NSW coach Phil Jaques said in commentary that he felt “deflated.”

Jaques, a former star of Konstas’ club Sutherland, has been watching the batting prodigy for a long time, including the two hundreds he made in a match against South Australia earlier this season batting conventionally.

He can’t understand what’s happened.

Konstas admitted after his whirlwind two Tests against India that he had been caught up in the moment against Bumrah, and vowed that his daring stroke play was a specific plan to the most unplayable bowler on the planet.

Sam Konstas first over of the day facing Scott Boland.

1: leading edge for 2
2: scoop over slips for 4
3: advance, slap through mid off for 4
4: missed scoop hit on pads
5: missed flick down leg
6: fwd defence

All. Happening.#[e-mail]/RvmBGuowUz

— Declan Byrne (@dec_byrne) February 17, 2025

But even though six weeks have passed, Konstas played like he was still punch drunk from his Test experience.

Boland is a great bowler, but his stuff to start the Shield match was far from unplayable on what Jaques observed was a good batting wicket.

You simply can’t throw your wicket away like that when you’re opening the batting at the top level.

Konstas insists he has more layers to his game than ramping against the new ball, and he does — they were on show last week in his hundred against Queensland and earlier in the summer against South Australia.

But the unpredictability must be a concern to Australian selectors looking forward to the Test Championship Final.

Many good judges felt Konstas was robbed of two Tests in Sri Lanka that could have been invaluable to his development, but Tuesday’s kamikaze innings suggested he is a young batsman still searching for maturity.

Selectors won’t want to quell the confidence and courage that defined Konstas’ series-turning knock on debut on Boxing Day, but more discipline is required.

Konstas is the future, but can he be trusted for Test cricket’s grand final?

There will be a close watch on Konstas for his two remaining Shield matches this summer – with pressure not on how many runs he is making, but how he is trying to make them.

Originally published as Sam Konstas’ brief Sheffield Shield innings against Victoria reveals concerning signs for Australian selectors