Young Australian cricketer Sam Konstas has been dropped from the national Ashes squad, sparking significant discussion regarding his performance and future in the sport. Konstas is famous for his fiery batting approach. It was his breathtaking displays such as his scintillating 60 runs against India in the MCG last Boxing Day that propelled him to the limelight. Since this bright opening he has been unable to find any sustained rhythm, notching up a single half-century since that first appearance.
Konstas’s exclusion from the Ashes squad is surprising with him set to play a key role in the Shield this summer. This recent announcement underscores the dangers for young athletes in stressful, emergency conditions. George Bailey, Australia’s chief selector, said: “Our hearts go out to a kid like Konstas given the extreme pressure that has been put on him.
“I feel for Sammy because I feel like at the moment if he farts it’s a headline,” – George Bailey
Bailey emphasized that Konstas is not alone in facing such pressures, stating, “There’s a handful of young guys his age playing Shield cricket throughout the country and they are all learning to become the best cricketers they can be.” He challenged Konstas to focus on his own development. The best way to do it was to keep things simple, score runs and be a good cricketer for New South Wales.
All was not lost, as it stands, as Konstas will still have chances to display his talents in the lead-up to the next selection window. He would play for the Prime Minister’s XI or Cricket Australia XI in unofficial Tests and one-dayers against touring England sides. Additionally, playing for New South Wales in the Sheffield Shield could provide him with the platform to regain his form.
Even former Australian cricket captain Steve Waugh has added his voice to improving Konstas’s plight. He spoke of parallels in their paths, remembering his own tough times during the period after he was released from the national team.
“He actually reminds me of myself when I first started playing for Australia,” – Steve Waugh
Waugh elaborated on the difficulties young players face, stating, “It’s really hard to learn how to play Test cricket while you’re playing Test cricket, and that’s what happened to me for a couple of years.” His anecdote illustrated how important confidence is for a player’s success. Which means it’s possible Konstas is experiencing the form swings of a young player at this moment in time.
Marnus Labuschagne could replace him at the top of the batting order for the Ashes. This will only serve to compound the pressure on Konstas, as he looks to consolidate his place in the lead up to next summer’s Sheffield Shield. The cricketing community are surely all hopeful that he can find his focus, rechannel that talent and return to finding his domestic game bordering on world-class.
