 "Sam Konstas set for Australia debut in MCG Test against India as hosts sweat over Travis Head's fitness")
Sam Konstas will be making his international debut in the fourth Test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Australia however, are sweating over the fitness of in-form middle-order batter Travis Head, who had suffered a quadriceps muscle strain during the third Test at The Gabba.
Konstas, who opens for New South Wales and was part of the Australia A team that completed a 2-0 sweep in an unofficial Test series against India A, will become the 468th Australian men’s Test cricketer. Cricket Australia selector Tony Dodemaide informed the 19-year-old of his selection during a training session at the MCG, where the fourth Test gets underway on 26 December.
Also Read | Meet Sam Konstas, the 19-year-old set to debut for Australia in Boxing Day Test against India
Konstas will become the youngest Test debutant for Australia since 18-year-old Pat Cummins broke into the squad in 2011.
“We wanted clarity for our batting unit before the team meeting,” Australia coach Andrew McDonald said ahead of the fourth Test with the series locked at 1-1 .
Dodemaide informing Konstas about his inclusion was a departure from protocol as traditionally, it’s the Australian skipper who confirms the playing XI on match eve or on the morning of the match.
“It’s (breaking the news) something we don’t usually do because haven’t had too many moving parts, but we thought we’d get that out of the way so everyone knows that he’s in the team,” said McDonald.
Impact Shorts
More Shorts“He (Konstas) has been very similar to what I’ve seen on the outside within (the team) — composed, relaxed, knows his game. And what he’s shown is an array of shots, the ability to put pressure back on to opponents and he gets his opportunity,” he added.
Konstas replaces Nathan McSweeney in the side after the opener was dropped because of a string of poor scores in the three Tests so far.
However, McDonald said, Head, one of the in-form batters having scored two centuries so far in the series, had a “a small strain to the quad” picked up during the last day of the third Test at the Gabba.
The ‘Player of the Match’ in the last two Tests faced only throw-downs from assistant coach Brad Hodge rather than his fast-bowling teammates at the nets on Tuesday.
“I thought he looked good with the bat in his hands so obviously the skills are in good order. It will just be what risk is associated with that,” said McDonald.
“But no concerns from my end, he’s been able to do his running so I think he’ll be functional come game time.”
The coach did not speculate on who could fill the spot in the middle-order if Head fails to prove his fitness. The uncapped pair of Josh Inglis and Beau Webster are the stand-byes in the squad.
However, pacer Scott Boland has been all-but confirmed to replace Josh Hazlewood, who is nursing a calf strain .
McDonald said with temperatures expected to soar to over 40 degrees during the Boxing Day Test, the pitch could end up being more batter-friendly.
“I think this wicket might offer the batters a little bit more in terms of the surface as the game draws on. If we didn’t pick Scotty (Boland) here — and I know I’m not allowed to declare the team because that’s Pat’s (Cummins) job tomorrow — but I don’t think I’m coming to the ground Boxing Day if Scotty’s not in the eleven.
“We’ve got great depth in our bowling, and (all-rounder) Mitch Marsh is fully fit and able to bowl. But he (Boland) is ready to go and I think he’ll play a role in this Test match with the ball more so than the previous ones.”
With PTI inputs
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