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Why Is Sam Konstas Heading Back To Australia?
Follow UsDespite impressing in his debut series, Sam Konstas was dropped from the Australian team for the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle
Australia’s young opener Sam Konstas is departing from the Sri Lanka tour to feature in New South Wales’ next Sheffield Shield 2024-25 encounter against Queensland, starting on February 8.
Konstas made an eventful debut against India during the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The right-handed opener hit 113 runs across four innings at a strike rate of 81.88 and even went after the best pacer of the current generation, Jasprit Bumrah, in his first innings.
Despite impressing in his debut series, Konstas was dropped from the Australian team for the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle. Australia gave the opening slot to Travis Head and the left-hander responded with a 40-ball 57. His partner Usman Khawaja crafted a double ton as Australia hammered Sri Lanka by an innings and 242 runs.
It’s highly unlikely Australia will be making any changes to their batting order for the second Test, starting on February 6. "That's the plan. Hopefully, I can be back for the first game," Konstas told the Sydney Morning Herald.
"It's been a huge honour being in the squad and learning from the likes of Travis Head, Steve Smith, Usman Khawaja, the way they go about it. And obviously having experience in the Asian continent in Dubai.
"It's been about understanding what works in these conditions, and hopefully I can emulate that after I get back to Sydney. Understanding your strengths and trying to do it for as long as possible in these conditions."
Talking about his exclusion from the playing XI, Konstas said: "I totally understood the decision (not to play in the first Test), Travis Head's a legend of the game and he's been dominating in these conditions up top.
"So for me it was trying to get exposure to Dubai, Sri Lanka, try to learn and I feel like I learned quite a bit about things if I do play in the subcontinent. That's basically it.”
Meanwhile, Head said Konstas will open the batting in the World Test Championship (WTC) final against South Africa later this year. "Most likely I'll go back into the middle order (for the World Test Championship) and Sam would open, but I'm glad I'm not a selector.”