Sam Konstas’ mentor, former Test all-rounder Shane Watson, believes Australia’s newest batting sensation will continue his bold approach and look to heap more pressure on India’s bowlers in a blockbuster series finale at the SCG.
Konstas will become the youngest Australian Test player to feature in a match at the SCG when Friday’s fifth Test gets under way.
Australian cricket fans have been infatuated by Konstas since he smashed 60 off 65 balls on debut with spectacular ramp shots off Jasprit Bumrah.
India’s premier fast bowler had his revenge in the second innings by bowling Konstas for eight, setting the scene for a fascinating head-to-head battle on the youngster’s home pitch at the SCG.
“I understood what his game plan and what plan A was,” Watson said. “When plan B kicked in quite quickly, within a couple of overs, that was a little surprising. The one thing that we’ve always talked about is trusting his gut.
“Obviously after those first couple of overs of Bumrah weaving his magic, he felt, ‘If I am going to bat normally, it’s a matter of time before he gets me out’.
Sam Konstas in the SCG nets ahead of the fifth Test against India. Credit: AAPIMAGE
“So he obviously just went with what he felt and fully committed to it. That takes a lot of courage.
“It just shows that he’s built for this stage. Most people it takes a bit of time to warm up to sort of get into that, whereas Sam just thrives on that.”
India changed tactics in the second innings by putting fielders at fine leg and third man to deter Konstas from playing ramp shots.
“I think his blueprint [in Sydney] will be a balance of all his shot options,” Watson said. “He will certainly be putting the pressure on the bowler.
Sam Konstas receives his NSW cap from Shane Watson before his Shield debut last year.Credit: Getty Images
“We saw the impact it had for the rest of the other batters. It just freed those more senior batters up to go, ‘You know what? We just have to let go and not be worried about getting out’. Sam was that personified with the way he batted.
“The ramp shot is probably out. But you know what, I thought the ramp wasn’t going to come out in the first couple of overs and it did. Sam will trust what he feels and goes with it.”
Watson, who has worked with Konstas for four years on his batting and the mental side of the game, said even he was surprised by how much the youngster enjoyed his maiden Test. The 19-year-old frequently engaged with the Melbourne crowd and a beaming smile rarely left his face.
“My experience of dealing and working with Sam has been a very quiet, reserved personality. [He’s a] very deep thinker and certainly not an extrovert,” Watson said.
“But obviously, what we saw in the Test match is that he absolutely is a showman, and he certainly rose to the occasion. He wasn’t overawed.
“I know through my experience of debuting, you really do sort of go inside [your shell]. For Sam, it’s superhuman in a way that he didn’t have any of that. That wasn’t put on. That’s who he is. I hadn’t seen that.”
