Nice’s Sheffield Protect name for Konstas as second Take a look at snub looms

Former Australian wicketkeeper Brad Haddin has urged selectors to permit Sam Konstas to play for NSW, fairly than conserving him on the tour to Sri Lanka.

Konstas is all however sure to overlook the second Take a look at of the sequence, which begins in Galle on Thursday, having been controversially omitted for the primary Take a look at to accommodate Travis Head’s transfer to open the batting.

The 19-year previous sensation made a whirlwind begin to his Take a look at profession in the summertime’s sequence victory over India, clubbing a memorable debut half-century on Boxing Day and averaging 28.25 on the high of the order throughout two Exams.

Haddin believes his improvement can be furthered extra by opening for the Blues of their first Sheffield Protect match of the season resumption, in opposition to Queensland on the Gabba on Saturday, than by remaining a reserve for the remainder of the tour.

“We’ve received to recollect he’s 19, so in the event that they’re not utilizing him for the second Take a look at I’d ship him house to play state cricket,” Haddin mentioned of Konstas.

“He hasn’t performed loads [of first-class cricket], and the extra he performs the higher.

“He would’ve had a very good couple of weeks over there studying – if he’s not going to be wanted, ship him again house to bat.”

Sam Konstas ramps Jasprit Bumrah through the Boxing Day Take a look at. (Photograph by Morgan Hancock – CA/Cricket Australia by way of Getty Photographs)

Konstas’ rise into the Take a look at staff got here off the again of simply 11 Sheffield Protect video games, with twin centuries in opposition to South Australia in October placing him on the radar of nationwide selectors.

His fearless strokeplay, together with repeat ramp photographs off star India fast Jasprit Bumrah, rapidly earmarked him as Australia’s most enjoyable new batting expertise in lots of a yr, however a number of reckless dismissals, most notably within the second innings in Sydney, have led to requires him to be additional tempered within the Protect.

Haddin believes Australia’s plan lengthy earlier than the touring squad for the Sri Lanka sequence was picked was for Head to open with Usman Khawaja, with that call vindicated in Galle as Head struck a sprightly half-century and Khawaja posted a maiden Take a look at double-century.

Nonetheless, he’s adamant Konstas shall be again within the staff when Head, as anticipated, returns to the center order for the World Take a look at Championship ultimate in opposition to South Africa in England.

“I believe he’s [Konstas] been ignored of the facet as a result of Australia had a plan a very long time in the past of how they wished to play in Sri Lanka,” Haddin mentioned.

“We’ve seen how nicely Travis Head and Uzzy performed on the high of the order, [but] I believe he’ll come straight again in for the Take a look at Championship [final].

“He’s come out of nowhere within the final six months as a result of he’s such a high-quality participant and continues to be studying the sport.

“He’s solely a 19-year previous boy, the world is in entrance of him. We’re going to see an excellent participant for a really very long time.”