Border-Gavaskar Trophy: Sam Konstas turns up heat on Marnus Labuschagne with PM XI’s century
New South Wales teen Sam Konstas has forced his way back to the top of the selection queue and put the heat on Australia’s shaky Test top-order after a splendid century against India on Sunday.
The 19-year-old’s 107 from 97 for the Prime Minister’s XI comes at the perfect time, with Marnus Labuschagne under intense pressure to hold his spot in the team after a horrific start to the summer in Perth.
The incumbent No.3 appears on his last chance in the Adelaide Test starting Friday, after scoring just five runs across two innings in last week’s West Test and averaging a pultry 24.50 in six matches this year.
Sign up to The Nightly's newsletters.
Get the first look at the digital newspaper, curated daily stories and breaking headlines delivered to your inbox.
By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.However, captain Pat Cummins and Andrew McDonald flagged their were unlikely to be any form-based changes for the pink-ball Test.
Konstas was the shining light of the young PM’s XI unit with the orginal two-day day-night practise match turned into a 50-over clash using the pink ball due to Canberra’s abysmal weather.
The rising star may have been beaten out by South Australian Nathan McSweeney in the Australia A ‘batoff’ ahead of the Border-Gavaskar series commencing, but his name will now be at the forefront of selectors’ minds.
Opening the batting alongside Queenslander Matthew Renshaw, Konstas looked assured from the outset.
He lost Renshaw and young West Aussie Jayden Goodwin early but combined with Jack Clayton for a 111-run partnership.
His trademark shots through the V were on display early before he showed his incedible wealth of talent with an unbeleivable reverse ramp off India’s Perth debutant Harshit Rana, who regulary clocked speeds around the 144km/h mark at Perth Stadium.
Konstas reverted back to his text-book shots but maintained a run rate above 100 for almost all of his innings.
He reached triple figures with a nice back-foot punch off superstar Ravi Jadeja.
The 19-year-old eventually fell to Akash Deep for 107 attempting to push the pace alongside the lower order with the PM’s XI bowled out for 240.
Australia’s only confirmed change for Adelaide comes from the bowlers with Josh Hazlewood set to miss with soreness and Scott Boland his most likely replacement.
India look likely to make at least two changes with skipper Rohit Sharma having joined the squad after the birth of his child and Shubman Gill a chance to return from a thumb injury.
