Sam Konstas given clear directive to improve if he wants to play for Australia in the Ashes

The first Ashes Test is five months away and after flailing in the West Indies, teen opener Sam Konstas has been told what he needs to do if he wants to face England.

Teenage opener Sam Konstas will begin his summer in the Sheffield Shield with clear direction on what he needs to work on after a “difficult time” in the West Indies that Australian coach Andrew McDonald is confident won’t derail his career.

After making just 50 runs in six innings across three Tests, Konstas’ position at the top of the order for the Ashes is anything but assured, although McDonald is adamant Konstas has a “big future ahead of him”.

The 19-year-old will have up to four Shield games with NSW before the first Ashes Test to make a case to keep his spot and would need to show significant improvement after finishing his maiden tour of the West Indies with the lowest average – 8.33 – of any Aussie opener in the Caribbean since 1984.

“I think it leaves him where everyone else is in terms of Shield cricket at the start of the season, we’re not going to shy away from the fact that will be big for certain individuals to go about their work, put some scores on the board, and, and then for us to look at what we need against Englandl,” McDonald said.

“Right now he is juggling his aggressive nature, his technique and the way he wants to go about playing.

“When you see a player in work at the nets and you gather information, we believe he has got more layers than just being that ultra-aggressive disrupter at the top of the order.

Sam Konstas made only 50 runs in the West Indies. Picture: Randy Brooks / AFP

“We feel he has a big future ahead. He’s had a small setback here in difficult conditions, so did the rest of the top order.

“It was a difficult time for Sam; he will take away of some information that will accelerate his growth going forward. It’s been a massive positive.”

McDonald was adamant that every bit of exposure to Test cricket would enhance, not detract, from Konstas’ progression.

“Nobody is damaged being exposed to Test cricket,” he told SEN.

“What it does is give you a taste of what that level is like. All the things that come with being a Test cricketer. The exposure across the series is going to create great opportunities for him to go away and reflect.

“This period of time for any player is a ‘decompress, do you own reflections’, then we get together and plan the winter for him and get him where he needs to be for Shield cricket.

Sam Konstas made a duck in his final innings in the West Indies. Picture: Randy Brooks / AFP

“There’s no doubt he’s got something to work on like all our players. I’m not going to expose what they are because that’s a declaration to the opposition.

“He is clear on what they are and is working on them. He is a highly talented player and over time we will see the real Sam Konstas.”

Konstas is set to be pitched into a battle with the likes of Cameron Bancroft, Marcus Harris and Nathan McSweeney to open for Australia with Usman Khawaja against England.

Despite his own battles, Khawaja, 38, is likely to keep his spot, with Marnus Labuschagne, the former No.1 batter in the world who lost his spot, also angling to get back in.

The Sheffield Shield season begins in the first week of October.

Originally published as Sam Konstas given clear directive to improve if he wants to play for Australia in the Ashes