Who is Sam Konstas? 5 interesting facts about Australian opener who scored 107 vs India for PM XI in Canberra
Sam Konstas, the teenage sensation from New South Wales, made a strong case for himself to get included in the Australian Test squad. He scored a sensational century against the touring Indians in the warm-up clash at the Manuka Oval in Canberra.
Playing for the Prime Minister’s XI, Konstas took the Indian bowling apart and scored a blistering 107 off a mere 97 deliveries, including 14 fours and a six. The match was earlier slated to be a two-day affair, but rain played spoilsport all through Day 1, forcing the game to be reduced to a 50-over affair on Day 2.
Both teams agreed as India needed some much-needed practice against the pink ball ahead of the Adelaide Test. Konstas took his time initially before displaying a wide array of strokes to unsettle the likes of Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna and Nitish Kumar Reddy. He executed the reverse ramp to perfection on at least three occasions.
He kept chancing his arms and the boundaries kept flowing from his blade. However he had to mellow down a bit when his side lost five wickets for just seven runs. Konstas went onto to complete a well-deserved century but his stupendous knock wasn't quite enough as India chased the target down in the 43rd over.
Let us now have a look at five interesting facts about the Australian opener who scored 107 for the PM XI against India.
#1 Birth and origin
Swashbuckling Australian right-handed batter Sam Konstas was born on October 2, 2005, in New South Wales.
Considering the form of the Australian batters, Konstas could be in the radar for national selection in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. Konstas is an Australian batter of Greek heritage.
#2 First-class career
Sam Konstas, 19, made his first-class debut against Tasmania in November 2023 and looked a special talent right from the word go. Konstas also became the youngest Aussie since Ricky Ponting to hit twin first-class centuries in a single game.
He scored twin tons against South Australia in a Shield game in October this year. He scored 152 and 105 to replicate the feat achieved by Ricky Ponting back in 1993.
#3 Konstas is mentored by Shane Watson
The stylish-looking right-handed batter is mentored by former Aussie all-rounder Shane Watson. A player from a similar mould, some of Konstas’ shots against India in the warm-up game resembled Shane Watson in his prime and it was quite evident that the teenager is being groomed by the former Aussie great.
Watson even went to the extent of saying that it's the right time for Konstas to break into the Australian Test XI ahead of the opening BGT Test at the Optus Stadium in Perth.
“The whole situation is, in my mind, a perfect storm to be able to give him an opportunity to be able to play Test cricket.For me, this is an opportune time, knowing that the bowlers are ageing, there's Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja as a starting point who are ageing,” Watson was quoted as saying by AAP.
#4 High praise from NSW head coach Greg Shipperd
New South Wales head coach Greg Shipperd reserved high praise for the 19-year-old Konstas. Shipperd believes he has all the attributes to play for the senior team and serve the country for a considerable amount of time.
He said via TOI:
“It was all heading in the right direction as he finished off the last season. He was a breath of fresh air around the group in terms of energy and his commitment to his craft."
"I have seen young players come through over my journey of 50 years and he is a special one. We are looking forward to him playing well for us and I believe he is an Australian player in the waiting,” Shipperd was quoted as saying during the SEN 1170 Mornings show via TOI.
#5 Sam Konstas was a member of Australia’s U19 World Cup winning team earlier this year
Sam Konstas was named in Australia’s U-19 squad for the tour of England earlier this year. Consistent performances in age group-level cricket paved the way for selection in the U-19 World Cup.
He opened the innings for Australia. Konstas was not at his consistent best during the World Cup but scored a match winning century against West Indies. Australia went onto win the tournament by beating India in the final.