Former Test opener Chris Rogers has questioned if Sam Konstas really wants to be an all-out aggressor, as data shows how much the teen’s game has changed since December.
Konstas put himself back in the headlines this week, when bowled trying to slog-sweep Scott Boland in the third over of a Sheffield Shield match against Victoria at the SCG.
The seven-ball cameo included a reverse-scoop for four off Boland’s second ball and another boundary charging down the wicket, before he was out for 10.
It prompted immediate questions over the right-hander’s long-term viability at the top, and whether he will regain his spot for the World Test Championship final against South Africa.
Konstas responded by waiting 30 balls to play an attacking shot in NSW’s second innings, before being caught for 17 as the Blues went on to victory.
“Being an opening batter you probably want to be as consistent as possible with your approach,” Rogers, who played 25 Tests for Australia and is now Victoria’s coach, said.
“I like the fact at times he decides to put pressure back on the bowlers and try and change the game.
“But for him it’s probably working out the calculated risks he wants to take.
“He’s only played 15 first-class games, the more he plays he’s going to understand what his style is and be able to deal with the pressures of first class cricket.”
Those close to Konstas insist he has not changed since his eye-catching Boxing Day Test debut, where he reverse-scooped Jasprit Bumrah and hit a quickfire 60.
But what has become evident is the way the 19-year-old’s cricket has changed in recent months.
When Konstas became the youngest player to hit twin tons in a Shield match in October, he played no scoops and left or defended almost half the balls he faced.
His approach has clearly changed since, with the turning point seemingly coming when he hit 107 from 97 balls against India in a shortened two-day match for the Prime Minister’s XI.
Before that game, Konstas had a strike-rate of 50.7 in first-class cricket, hitting a boundary once every 17 balls and averaging 39.75.
From that innings on, Konstas’ strike-rate has sat at 72 in red and pink-ball cricket, with a boundary every 11 balls while averaging 36.
Konstas’ percentage of runs from boundaries has also gone from 24 to 39.
“It’s interesting because I know a couple of the boys who have been around him said he doesn’t particularly want to play like that,” Rogers said.
“I wonder if it’s just he gets into the contest and his heart rate goes up and he makes these decisions a little bit on the fly. I really don’t know.
“He’s got such a big future. He’s so talented. Even when he was playing in the second innings he looked assured.”
Boland admitted this week he was also surprised Konstas attacked him so early in Sydney.
“We thought with the wicket having a bit of nip if you put enough balls in the right area we had a good chance of getting his wicket when he plays like that,” Boland said.
“It’s up to him how he wants to bat. We saw before Christmas the way he batted against South Australia and others when he got some big scores.
“He’s got both methods and can play really aggressive, but when he wants to play the traditional method in four-day cricket, he has the game to do it.”
Content Source: www.perthnow.com.au