Canberra [Australia], January 9 : After making an impression against India’s formidable bowling attack in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Sam Konstas has earned a spot in Australia’s upcoming two-match Test tour of Sri Lanka. However, there is still uncertainty about whether he will open the batting for Australia on the spin-friendly subcontinent pitches.
Konstas showcased excellent technique during his time as an opener against India, drawing attention with his aggressive yet unorthodox shot-making. His solid performances, including a total of 113 runs across two Tests, highlight his potential with an average of 28.25 and a strike rate of 81.88.
Despite his promising start, questions remain about how Konstas will adapt to Sri Lanka’s turning tracks. Australia’s chair of selectors, George Bailey, acknowledged that while Konstas’s technique is well-suited for such conditions, the team is still considering the possibility of promoting Travis Head to the opening slot.
“In truth, you never really know until someone’s faced with subcontinent conditions,” Bailey said. “What we’ve seen is that Sam is a quick learner, and he absorbs information well. From his performances in Australia and other regions, we believe his game is well-suited to these conditions. This tour will help us learn more about how he adapts.”
Head, who has previous experience opening in the subcontinent, had a strong run during his stint in India in 2023, scoring 223 runs at an average of 55 and a strike rate of 71.
With captain Pat Cummins absent from the series, Steve Smith will lead the team in his place. Australia will also be without the services of Josh Hazlewood, who is recovering from a calf injury, and Mitchell Marsh, who has been left out of the squad. Youngsters Cooper Connolly and Nathan McSweeney have been preferred over seasoned players like Adam Zampa and Peter Handscomb.
The series begins on January 29 in Galle, with the second Test scheduled for February 6, also at Galle.
Australia Squad: Steve Smith (c), Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Travis Head (vc), Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Matt Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Nathan McSweeney, Todd Murphy, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster.