How Australian cricket can protect Sam Konstas to ensure he performs at his blistering best

The architect of ‘Bazball’ – England coach Brendon McCullum – believes Sam Konstas is a ready-made matchwinner but Australia must have the right structures in place to support his brash batting.

The architect of ‘Bazball’ – England cricket coach Brendon McCullum – says Sam Konstas is a ready made matchwinner but Australia must have the right structures in place to support his brash batting.

Ahead of next summer’s Ashes in Australia, McCullum told Code Sports that fans are in for a wild ride watching Konstas and they shouldn’t expect consistency.

But McCullum says he was “super excited” about the emergence of a young batsman who could help take Test cricket on a fresh revolution.

“It’s not going to be all beer and skittles for him all the way through, because he plays a high-risk game,” McCullum said.

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Sam Konstas made an explosive debut for Australia. Picture: Getty Images

“But if you set your team up for someone to be able to play a high-risk game, then you are going to him every chance.

“If he was in any squad that I was a part of, I would make sure I had enough consistency around him to allow his flair to be on when it needs to be on, and to handle things when it doesn’t quite work.

“I watched the first 45 minutes of him batting on debut and I was super excited about him.

“He’s a huge talent, an incredible talent. We need to separate the way he plays from the way he handles himself – that’s just youth, right?

“That will chisel away in time.

“I’m looking purely at the way he plays with bat in hand and I think he is a real talent.”

Sam Konstas attempts a ramp shot

Asked if he was expecting Konstas to be Australia’s opener when the Ashes kicked off next summer, McCullum said: “I don’t know, there is a lot of cricket to go.”

But the Kiwi legend, who has ensured England has adopted an aggressive ‘Bazball’ approach to Test cricket, has wished Konstas well.

And he says the youngster should embrace the wild ride he is on.

“When you are a kid in your backyard, you want to be the one that people are talking about, the guy that everyone’s hopes are being hung on,” McCullum said.

Sam Konstas produced several cracking shots across his first few innings for Australia. Picture: Getty Images

“You can’t then get there and if it doesn’t quite work out, be disappointed by it.

“He will get there and he will be fine.

“He will go through some ups and downs, he will have times when he is electric and wins matches and times when it doesn’t work.

“I think it’s great when you see these young talents come in.

“We have got some great established players still active around the scene, but when you introduce new talent it’s pretty exciting.

“We have done it with England in the last 12 months.

“It’s so energising as well, it raises the other players in the team.”

Australian cricketer Sam Konstas relaxes at Cronulla. Picture: Richard Dobson

McCullum studied Australia’s work during their enthralling home Test series triumph against India and concluded the Aussies deserved to win, having been better at the moments which really counted.

“I watched all the Tests and I thought it was good viewing and a really cool series,” he said.

“There were some big moments which were seized which made a significant difference.

“In the end Australia played really well and seized those moments, they will be delighted with what they were able to achieve.”

New Zealander McCullum has been at the Gold Coast Magic Millions Sales this week and sold a yearling on Tuesday.

He has long had a passion for horse racing and breeding, although he has scaled back his racing interests since becoming England coach.

Originally published as How Australian cricket can protect Sam Konstas to ensure he performs at his blistering best