Sam Konstas, the 19-year-old Australian professional cricketer, faced a new challenge after the sudden collapse of his burgeoning career. The latter took place during the second Test against the West Indies. Konstas made a solid debut in his last game, scoring 25 runs. When he was dismissed for a duck on this occasion, leaving him visibly distraught, the coaching staff felt an immediate course of action should be taken.
This was the rare moment that remained against them, when Konstas was beaten by a delivery from West Indies bowler Jayden Seales. In a cruel stroke of luck, he didn’t get enough of the ball and was left out. Konstas may not have been out lbw, but he certainly left the playing surface in agony. The emotional toll was evident as he trudged off the pitch.
Bharat Sundaresan, a well-travelled and well-respected commentator, saw the raw emotion of the young player. He noted, “He walked off staring blankly into the distance, emotional even.” These remarks illustrate the brutal pressure placed on young athletes. For them, it’s particularly gut wrenching as they chart their way through the intense dog-eat-dog world of international cricket.
This was only Konstas’s fourth Test cap, putting his composure under pressure in a tight affair up for question. He struggled mightily in the series against the West Indies. In that same tournament’s opening match in Barbados, he produced only 3 and 5. His pattern of ongoing low scores has created issues for his long-term opening partner Usman Khawaja. Khawaja, the veteran of this trio of openers, is 19 years older than him. Their fledgling partnership is rapidly going out of reach as the Australian openers keep getting out for not much.
Damien Fleming, one of Australia’s leading cricket analysts, found a positive in Australia’s time in the sun. He lauded T20 skipper Pat Cummins for his leadership and game-changing feats. He remarked, “Captain Pat takes one of the greatest caught and bowled of all time,” showcasing that while one player faced difficulties, another rose to the occasion.
And as Chief Sam Konstas looks back at how he’s performed, he too has a chance to grow. We know that international cricket can be a challenging environment for inexperienced players. Nonetheless, these difficulty-shaping experiences are intimately connected to their development and resilience. Time for the coaching staff to do some serious soul searching. It’ll do wonders for his confidence as he and the Blue Devils get ready for opening day.
