Konstas made 113 in his first two Tests against India, averaging 28.25 and enthralling everyone with a rollicking 60 off 65 balls on debut in the Boxing Day match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. But with word going around Australia considering to open with Travis Head, Khawaja has backed Konstas to continue opening the batting when the first Test begins in Galle on January 29.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI\u2019m very conservative in that nature \u2013 I\u2019m a bit the same (as Ponting), you\u2019ve got two openers so open with them. I\u2019ve always been that nature because I\u2019ve been on so many subcontinent tours and been shuffled or dropped, and I don\u2019t necessarily agree with that. You\u2019ve got your best team, so stick with it. Let them learn in all different conditions and then whatever happens from there, is there,\u201d said Khawaja to reporters in Colombo on Sunday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
With youngsters like Konstas, Nathan McSweeney and Cooper Connolly in the Test team, it also signals that Australia are starting the transition period. \u201cYou\u2019ve got to be yourself. 19 is young \u2013 I could not even imagine myself being thrust into the Australian team at that age.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a steep learning curve, so he\u2019s going to have some steep learning curves throughout his career. He\u2019s going to learn a lot about his game and himself, go through ups and downs. The beauty of Sam is he\u2019s very easy to talk to, (and) very receptive to feedback, which is a great trait to have.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cThe younger generation have this air of confidence about them these days \u2013 Sam, Nath, Cooper, even \u2013 they\u2019re really receptive, [and] eager to learn. You be yourself, but they\u2019re also able to quieten down and listen when the time is right,\u201d added Khawaja.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Speaking about how long his Test career will last, Khawaja remarked, \"Over the next three to four years, there's going to be a lot of transition going on. I'm quite attuned to that and I still want to play and I want to keep playing for as long as I can.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"But I also know there might be a right time to slip out. If I'm still playing and the selectors are like, 'We feel like the time's come', it's, 'You let me know and I can slide out'. There's definitely those thoughts (bowing out in Sydney) in my head, I'm not afraid to talk about that. I'm human.\"<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Speaking about how long his Test career will last, Khawaja remarked, \"Over the next three to four years, there's going to be a lot of transition going on. I'm quite attuned to that and I still want to play and I want to keep playing for as long as I can.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
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