On Friday, Konstas\u2019 was given a call-up to Australia Test team for the fourth and fifth Tests against India at the expense of Nathan McSweeney. Konstas shot into limelight by scoring twin centuries against South Australia in the opening round of Sheffield Shield.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Those twin centuries also earned him the distinction of being the first teenager to achieve this feat in the Sheffield Shield since the legendary Ricky Ponting did so in 1993. Before the knock of 88, Konstas also hit a century against India in the pink-ball practice game at Canberra, apart from making 73 not out against India A at Melbourne.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cAs the young Greek opening pair of Konstas and Blake Nikitaras strode to the crease, the SCG lights were needed and Morris gouged his bowling mark, touched his toes at the Paddington end and prepared to launch some rockets.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cKonstas dodged, weaved, watched the ball go past and then produced a cover drive of Greg Chappell class. Back-foot drive, front-foot drive, all timing and placement without the physical heft of so many contemporary batsmen. This continued until the umpires called a halt with NSW no wickets down.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cYes, there were a few swishes, a few plays and misses, and next morning \u2013 on his way to 88 \u2013 the attempted reverse ramp off a 150 km\/h good-length ball outside off stump sent coach Greg Shipperd into apoplexy, but the gloomy evening battle lit by the Morris raw flame at the SCG convinced me that this teenager was ready for the big time \u2013 right now,\u201d wrote Lawson in his column for The Sydney Morning Herald on Saturday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
If selected for the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne starting on December 26, Konstas would become the fourth-youngest men\u2019s Test debutant in Australia\u2019s history and the youngest player to enter the longer format since current captain Pat Cummins debuted in 2011.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Lawson also talked about how the Australian cricket circuit had earmarked Konstas\u2019 as one to watch out for. \u201cKonstas knows the game. He has an instinct for the game that is rare in one so raw; an old head on young shoulders that continues into of his mental battles against quality bowling.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cAt the conclusion of the Australia under-19 tour to England in 2023, assistant coach Dan Christian crossed my path and said, very clearly (as I had just become a NSW selector), \u201cThis kid Konstas, he\u2019s 17, but just put him in the Shield team and leave him there. He\u2019s going to be so good!\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Lawson also talked about how the Australian cricket circuit had earmarked Konstas\u2019 as one to watch out for. \u201cKonstas knows the game. He has an instinct for the game that is rare in one so raw; an old head on young shoulders that continues into of his mental battles against quality bowling.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
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