Sam Konstas’ brothers, Billy and Johnny, reveal star’s childhood tales ahead of Boxing Day debut

Walking out to the middle of the MCG was a dream scenario the Konstas brothers would act out in their Hurstville backyard. As Sam prepares to make that dream a reality, his brothers reveal stories from his rise to the top.

Billy Konstas is likely to have one wish for the Boxing Day Test: that India’s bowlers suffer like he did at the hands of his younger brother.

Australian Test cricket’s fourth youngest debutant, 19-year-old, Sam Konstas will walk out to the middle at the MCG to the kind of dream scenario he and his brothers would act out in their Hurstville backyard on long summer days not so long ago.

“As Sammy’s big brother, I’m incredibly proud of him for fulfilling his dream of wearing the baggy green,” older brother Billy said.

“Our cricket journey began in the backyard, where we’d recreate Ashes series.

“I’ll never forget the last time we played – he scored 300. I broke my back bowling for six hours and from that day I knew he was OK.”

Billy is now in the business of fixing ailments and is Sam’s physiotherapist.

(L-R) Sam, Billy and Johnny Konstas. Picture: Supplied

Like Billy, Sam’s twin brother Johnny was also a very handy bowler, which couldn’t have hurt the batting prodigy’s development to have two able arms throwing down to him for hours on end in the backyard located just a stone’s throw from Hurstville Oval in Sydney’s south.

This is the home of the famous St George cricket club – the home of Bradman, Arthur Morris, Bill O’Reilly and Ray Lindwall – and where the Konstas kids cut their teeth.

“From walking to Hurstville Oval as little kids to winning a premiership for St George on that same ground is an experience that I will never forget with him,” twin Johnny said.

“Watching him grow both as a player and as a person has been incredible. I’m super proud of everything he’s achieved, and I can’t wait to see where his journey takes him next.”

Billy (batting), Konstas (keeping) and Sam Konstas in slip at Beverley Hills Park in Sydney, pictured in 2016. Picture: John Feder

First stop is Konstas v Indian maestro Jasprit Bumrah at the MCG on Boxing Day in front of a sold out crowd of over 90,000 people.

The Border Gavaskar Trophy is locked at 1-1 and debuts do not get any bigger than this, especially not for teenage opening batsmen.

But for Konstas, family is everything.

St George club coach Peter Jackson recalls the Green Shield under 16s team which went undefeated with Sam as captain and leading run-scorer – smashing over 800 runs for the season.

Sam and Johnny Konstas. Picture: Supplied

Jackson said the bond between the Konstas twins was obvious and a key fabric in the team’s success with Johnny the leading wicket-taker.

“Sam in that year of Green Shield you could just see that Sam was a leader and not just with the bat but also as captain. But he was also very close to his brother and always, if we needed a wicket he would go to Johnny,” Jackson said.

It’s a big jump from the Hurstville backyard to the MCG for Sam Konstas. Picture: William WEST / AFP

“Or if we were in a situation where we needed to restrict runs he would rely on his brother to do the job – and he did do the job.

“Johnny opened the bowling and Sam scored the runs.”

It was a common sight to see Sam walking around the corner to Dora St with his kit bag to the Hurstville Oval gates, and now the run-scoring machine has the chance to forge his own legacy in the baggy green of Australia like Bradman and others before him.

“He’s scored hundreds every step of the way which is just a testament to how talented he is and how driven he is. He’s a special talent,” Jackson said.

“His parents should be credited for how respectful the boys are and the way they conduct themselves.

“Sam has certainly been brought up well and you’ve only got to hear Sam being interviewed now and he’s still very humble and always respectful of the opportunities he’s been given.”

Originally published as Sam Konstas’ brothers, Billy and Johnny, reveal star’s childhood tales ahead of Boxing Day debut