He endured one of the depressing sequence in Australian Take a look at historical past within the Caribbean, however the nice Ricky Ponting has urged selectors to retain Sam Konstas for the summer season’s Ashes sequence.
The 19-year outdated, who lit up world cricket final summer season when he flayed India and star quick bowler Jasprit Bumrah for a memorable Boxing Day half-century, managed simply 50 runs at a mean of 8.33 in Australia’s 3-0 sequence win over the West Indies – the worst run by an Aussie opener within the area in 41 years.
Alongside the way in which, a number of key technical deficiencies have been ruthlessly uncovered by the Windies’ tempo assault, particularly Shamar Joseph, with uncertainty exterior off stump and a vulnerability to inswing often contributing to his dismissals.
The catastrophe has thrown the spot on the prime of the order to tackle England into jeopardy, however talking on The ICC Assessment, Ponting, one among Australia’s best ever batters, has referred to as for Konstas to get one other likelihood on residence shores.
“I’m not going to make any actually harsh judgment calls on Sam but as a result of it was arduous work for each batter in that sequence, there’s little question about it,” he stated.
“They’ve to stay with him for a time period and assist him work by means of these deficiencies that he might need or may not have.
“If we get him again onto some flatter wickets at first of the Australian summer season and a few Sheffield Defend matches beneath his belt, possibly he’s acquired an incredible likelihood there to get some confidence again and get some runs beneath his belt.
“I’ll again him in.”
Sam Konstas and Usman Khawaja. (Photograph by Santanu Banik/Pace Media/Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Pictures)
Like Konstas, Ponting additionally made his Take a look at debut at a younger age, making 96 at simply 20 years outdated towards Sri Lanka in 1995.
He took time to seek out his ft, averaging within the mid-30s at Take a look at stage till late 1999, earlier than quickly blossoming to grow to be one among Australia’s all-time greats.
“The unlucky factor about Take a look at cricket and while you’re a younger bloke looking for your ft is very often it’s a must to work it out for your self,” he stated of Konstas’ struggles.
“You’ve acquired to discover a technique and one thing that works for you out within the center – now that is perhaps technique-wise, it is perhaps the way in which you method it, it is perhaps the psychological aspect of your sport, however there’s no larger expertise than being on the market and doing it.
“It’s trial and error till you really discover the precise proper treatment that works for you, and the one approach you are able to do that’s by being out within the center.”
Ponting additionally famous that Konstas’ struggles got here throughout a nightmare sequence for batters on either side, with no participant averaging greater than 40 and only one rating of past 300 managed from both staff in bowler-friendly situations.
He added that Australia’s choice to go away him out for the tour of Sri Lanka earlier this yr, with Travis Head moved to the highest of the order to associate Usman Khawaja in his stead, could have backfired.
“The Australians tried to guard him from what they thought was going to be a very tough tour of Sri Lanka,” he stated.
“They left him on the market hoping to carry him in within the Caribbean the place issues might need been a bit bit simpler. Properly, it’s been the precise reverse of that.
the wickets that we’ve acquired within the Caribbean have been arduous for everyone to bat on.
“I take a look at that final consequence the place the West Indies have been bowled out for 27. That’s simply not all the way down to high-quality bowling – that’s all the way down to the floor and the ball and all kinds of issues.”
Konstas is the newest Australian opening option to battle to mattress down a place alongside Khawaja since David Warner retired in January 2024.
Since then, Steve Smith, Nathan McSweeney, Konstas, Head and Marnus Labuschagne have all been trialled on the prime of the order, whereas Sheffield Defend stalwarts together with Cameron Bancroft and Matt Renshaw have regularly pressed their circumstances for increased honours.
