Sam Konstas’ unconventional approach to opening the batting is back under the spotlight after being bowled for 10, trying to slog-sweep Scott Boland early in a Sheffield Shield match.
Boland resumed his rich vein of form at the SCG on Tuesday, taking four wickets in the first two sessions as NSW were dismissed for 238 shortly after tea against Victoria.
In a helter-skelter start to the Shield match, Konstas reverse-scooped the second ball from Boland for four.
He jumped down the pitch and hit his Test teammate for another boundary next ball, then survived a hopeful lbw appeal when he missed another scoop later in the over.
But the 19-year-old was bowled on the first ball of Boland’s second over when he walked across his wicket, exposed all three stumps and tried to slog the Victorian into the leg side.
Konstas’ brief seven-ball innings came after he created headlines with a captivating 60 for Australia on debut on Boxing Day against India.
That was largely viewed as a bid to put off India’s maestro Jasprit Bumrah, before Konstas adopted a similar approach at the SCG in his next Test.
He was subsequently left out of Australia’s two Tests in Sri Lanka, with Travis Head becoming a specialist opener in Asia.
Konstas is widely expected to win back his spot for June’s World Test Championship final at Lord’s against South Africa, but scrutiny is growing.
The right-hander hit his maiden List A century in a 50-over game against Queensland last week, but made scores of three and 22 in the Sheffield Shield match.
Critics have also questioned if his approach can be successful long term in Test cricket.
“That’s the way he’s going about it, obviously,” Australian Test legend Adam Gilchrist said at a Kayo AFL launch on Tuesday.
“Time will tell whether it stands up, whether that’s going to be happening at Lord’s in a few months’ time.
“It’s a selection panel that’s thrown the rule book out the window, they get their ideas and they go with them. I’m sure he’ll still be in the frame.
“It has everyone talking … it’s the new age. It has to be good for the game.
“It’s up to him to work out – if he’s not being picked, if he’s not getting results … whether he changes that and tones it down a little bit.”
Konstas will have up to five more Sheffield Shield innings this summer, plus a potential two more if NSW are to make the final.
Making his recent approach more peculiar is the fact he began the summer playing far more conventional cricket.
Konstas’ glorious cover drive was a feature of his twin tons against South Australia at the start of the summer, when he barely played a ramp in scores of 152 and 105.
He was not alone in his attacking approach on Tuesday, with Nic Maddinson (33) also taking 20 off Fergus O’Neill’s first over to leave NSW 0-30 after two overs.
Boland then brought Victoria back into the match, getting Kurtis Patterson (37) and Josh Philippe (6) caught behind and Jack Edwards at slip for a duck.
Oliver Davies offered the only real resistance for the Blues, reaching 89 and putting on a 102-run seventh-wicket partnership with Chris Green (19).
Content Source: www.perthnow.com.au