Ricky Ponting has backed Sam Konstas to be selected for the first Test against Sri Lanka

Test great Ricky Ponting has strongly urged Australia to play Sam Konstas in Sri Lanka as selectors contemplate dropping him for the first Test.

Sam Konstas of Australia looks on before walking onto the field to bat prior to day two of the Fifth Men's Test Match in the series between Australia and India at Sydney Cricket Ground on January 04, 2025 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Test great Ricky Ponting has strongly urged Australia to play Sam Konstas in Sri Lanka as selectors contemplate dropping him for the first Test.

It’s understood selectors have yet to settle on a batting order and are giving serious consideration to the merits of rejigging the line-up to open with Travis Head and slotting Josh Inglis or Nathan McSweeney into the middle-order.

There has been a long-held vision to open with Head in Sri Lankan conditions, and part of that plan has involved selectors keeping a close watch on the uncapped Inglis, who they feel has the game to conquer spin in the sub-continent.

McSweeney is also considered a good prospect in the conditions and there is talk of him being in contention for a comeback in the middle-order just three Tests after he was dropped as an opener for Konstas on Boxing Day.

Sam Konstas of Australia looks on before walking onto the field to bat prior to day two of the Fifth Men's Test Match in the series between Australia and India at Sydney Cricket Ground on January 04, 2025 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

A big call awaits selectors in Galle before Wednesday’s opening Test, as they weigh up the merits of giving 19-year-old Konstas continuity at the top of the order, or injecting another greenhorn batsman who might be considered a more horses for courses option.

Channel 7 cricket expert and former Test captain Ponting believes that would be a mistake and insists Konstas must play.

“No, I think they’ll pick Konstas, I think they should pick Konstas actually,” Ponting said.

“He’s obviously the one they’ve identified. He’s hit the ground running here and certainly in his first innings he brought a lot of entertainment and a lot of buzz around that whole Test series.

“I think they need to play him to be honest.

“It’s a hard place to play and it’s a hard place to win. It’s going to be a hard place to bat for all of our guys and especially some of those younger guys that haven’t experienced those conditions much in the past.

“But I think they should pick him. I think it’ll be a great a learning experience for him. I think getting out of Australia and getting away from some of that buzz and hype that surrounded him for the summer will do him some good as well and he can learn a bit about what the travelling life of an international cricketer is all about and how hard it can be to play in different parts of the world.

“I’d be certainly picking him if I was a selector.”

Sam Konstas made an instant impression in his debut Test series. Picture: AFP

Australia were only due to arrive in Sri Lanka from their training camp in the UAE on Friday night and no decisions on the final XI will be made until the team has seen the pitch in Galle and locked into preparations on the ground ahead of Wednesday.

If Konstas is dropped, it would be Head opening with Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith in their accustomed positions at 3 and 4, and then either Inglis or McSweeney slotting in at No.5 to be followed by seam bowling all-rounder Beau Webster at 6.

Should Konstas retain his place, then Australia has to decide whether they leave Head at No.5 or open with Konstas and Head and move Khawaja down to 3.

Ponting said the merits of opening with Head were clear, but that the greater priority should be fostering Konstas as a long-term opener.

Ricky Ponting has backed Sam Konstas to play in the first Test v Sri Lanka. Picture: AFP

“That does suit (Travis), but I think there’s an opportunity here with Konstas if he’s going to be a long term opener and I think everyone hopes that he will be, there’s a great opportunity for them to give him the experience he needs in these conditions,” said Ponting, who will front day one of Channel 7s coverage of the series.

“I think the order will stay the same. I think it’ll be the same with the option they have of maybe playing (Cooper Connolly) down there … at 7 or 8 and bowling a few overs as well.”

Captain Pat Cummins, who is missing this tour for the birth of his second child, said after Mitchell Marsh was left out for the Sydney Test that there should not be so much weight attached to batsmen being dropped.

If Konstas was benched for the first Test in Galle it would not necessarily impact on his chances of reclaiming his spot for the Test Championship Final in more familiar conditions in England in June.

However, it would still be a massive call to not stick with Konstas when he is currently the only member of the XI under the age of 30.

Sam Konstas will be the only man aged under 30 in Australia’s XI if selected to play. Picture: Tom Parrish

Replacing Konstas for Inglis or McSweeney in a reshuffled batting line-up risks overthinking things because you would be replacing an untested rookie for another untested rookie.

Inglis has never played a Test, McSweeney has never played a Test overseas, and so is there enough evidence to warrant them leapfrogging the incumbent Konstas, who turned the tide of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in the first of his only two Tests against India?

Especially when the pressure is off to a certain extent in Sri Lanka with Australia already qualified for the World Test Championship Final.

With six Test matches to play this year before the home Ashes starts in November, there is certainly an argument for just backing in Konstas no matter what.

Sam Konstas could be a long-term opener for Australia’s Test side. Picture: Getty Images

The counter-argument would be not wanting to unnecessarily damage his confidence by exposing him in treacherous batting conditions in Sri Lanka if he’s not ready.

Although there is wisdom in taking a horses for courses approach to selection in the sub-continent, if the decisions aren’t clear cut, playing around with the batting order can be problematic as Australia found out the hard way when it dropped Head for Matt Renshaw for the first Test in India two years ago.

Renshaw hasn’t been sighted since and Head has only grown in stature as Australia’s No.1 batsman.

The good thing for Australia is there are competition for spots in the batting order. And the jostle for selection will only get more intriguing for the World Test Championship when Cameron Green is back in the mix.

Originally published as Ricky Ponting has backed Sam Konstas to be selected for the first Test against Sri Lanka