Youngest Australian Test Openers, Full List: Sam Konstas Could Break 95-Year-Old Record | AUS vs IND | Cricket News Today

by Admin
December 21, 2024

Australia’s Sam Konstas, who is in line for a Test debut after being selected in the squad for the last two India Tests, could break a 95-year-old Australia record.

Konstas, who turned 19 in October, was included at the expense of Nathan McSweeney, as Australia made changes to their squad ahead of the Melbourne Boxing Day Test, with the Gabba game ending in a draw.

The highly sought-after opener has played 11 first-class matches so far, scoring 718 runs at 42.23, including two centuries and three fifties. If he gets handed a Test debut, he would become the fourth-youngest Australian to play men’s Test cricket.

Youngest men’s Test cricketers for Australia

Player	Opposition	Venue	Date	Age
Ian Craig	v South Africa	Melbourne	6 Feb 1953	17y 239d
Pat Cummins	v South Africa	Johannesburg	17 Nov 2011	18y 193d
Tom Garrett	v England	Melbourne	15 Mar 1877	18y 232d
Tom Garrett	v England	Melbourne	31 Mar 1877	18y 248d
Clem Hill	v England	Lord’s	22 Jun 1896	19y 96d

At 19 years and 85 days (at the start of the Test), Konstas would beat Clem Hill on the above list.

If Konstas gets to play in Melbourne, he will become the youngest opener from Australia ever, breaking Archie Jackson’s record from 1929. When he played the Adelaide Test that year, Jackson was 19 years and 149 days. The second-best on the list is the late Phil Hughes, who opened at 20 on the 2009 South Africa tour.

Youngest men’s Test openers for Australia

Player	Opposition	Venue	Date	Age
Archie Jackson	v England	Adelaide	1 Feb 1929	19y 149d
Archie Jackson	v England	Melbourne	8 Mar 1929	19y 184d
Phil Hughes	v South Africa	Johannesburg	26 Feb 2009	20y 88d
Phil Hughes	v South Africa	Durban	6 Mar 2009	20y 96d
Phil Hughes	v South Africa	Cape Town	19 Mar 2009	20y 109d

It remains to be seen whether Konstas gets his dream realised on the 26th, but all signs indicate he is set to earn his Test cap at the MCG.

AUS vs IND: Australia squad for last two Tests

Pat Cummins (c), Travis Head (vc), Steve Smith (vc), Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Jhye Richardson, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster.

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