‘Get him in’: Konstas calls grow louder after record knock

by Admin
December 18, 2024

English great Michael Vaughan believes teen sensation Sam Konstas could debut at Test level this summer and urged selectors to consider picking him.

The 19-year-old lit up the Big Bash in his debut on Tuesday night, scoring a half-century as the Sydney Thunder scored a dramatic victory over the Adelaide Strikers.

It was the latest notch in Konstas’ belt this summer, having already scored two tons at Sheffield Shield level and another against a strong Indian side last month.

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Speaking during the Fox Cricket broadcast on Wednesday, Vaughan heaped praise on the 19-year-old and hinted at a potential call-up for the Sydney fixture in early January.

Sam Konstas raises the bat for the Prime Minister’s XI. Getty

“There’s always a want and will to talk about what could go wrong with a young player – I look at Sam Konstas and think they have got to get him in quite quickly,” he said.

“He has got the ceiling to be world-class. You just look at the movements, his skill level and the flow of the bat, the little tricks of course … he can seriously play.

“I think he is a wonderful talent and got a huge future. If there’s a few failures between now and Sydney, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him make his debut at his home venue.

“His ceiling is so high … what can go wrong? Get a few low scores and come back. So many young players start really young and then have a period out and they come back.

“I think he could play at the SCG.”

Usman Khawaja of Australia walks off the field as rain falls during day four of the Third Test match in the series between Australia and India at The Gabba on December 17, 2024 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images) — Usman Khawaja has had a lean trot with bat in hand. Getty

Konstas is a natural opener and with pressure mounting on veteran Usman Khawaja and newcomer Nathan McSweeney, the possibility of a change is there for the Aussies.

In his first professional T20 game, Konstas brought up the fastest fifty in the franchise’s history and becoming the youngest player in BBL history to reach the milestone.

“He looked like he was cut from a different cloth,” Harsha Bhogle said.

“You could look at it and say it’s a flat deck or whether there were world-class bowlers.

“Or you can say no, I’ve watched cricket for a long time and I saw something there that told me this kid has it.”