Another day, another Sam Konstas clip for the highlight reel. This time, the most clippable shot was when he drew away to the leg side to cuff Western Australia’s Lance Morris, among the nation’s fastest bowlers, to the boundary behind point.
Those sorts of TikTok moments are, for better or worse, what many now expect of Konstas. Cricket followers who wish for success see them as brilliantly disruptive; those less enamoured with Konstas see impetuosity, immaturity and limitations.
Should Konstas be chosen for the world Test championship final against South Africa at Lord’s in June, he may find himself trying something similarly cheeky to break up the lines and lengths of the Proteas’ speedy Kagiso Rabada.
But there were plenty of more orthodox shots on Sunday night at the WACA Ground, unlike Konstas’ hectic first innings against Victoria in Sydney, or those viral displays against Jasprit Bumrah and India in the heady days of December and January. Not so much TikTok as ticktock – batting for time.
Cameron Gannon was hooked imperiously to the boundary through square leg; spinner Corey Rocchiccioli thumped down the ground; and Morris pulled with real power and authority through midwicket as the shadows lengthened.
It is those stroke choices that his state and national teammates, mentors and the Australian selectors are looking at most keenly: evidence that Konstas is growing as a player, beyond the starburst of shots on Boxing Day to something more rounded and holistic for Test cricket.
Day by day and innings by innings, 19-year-old Konstas is finding out more about himself and how best to play in a given match or situation.
In Perth on Sunday night, Konstas’ 107-ball 50 was more or less what the scenario demanded, as New South Wales battled to a draw against Western Australia to retain some hope of qualifying for the Sheffield Shield final against South Australia.
Of most importance to Australian coach Andrew McDonald and selection chair George Bailey will be that Konstas looked capable of scoring runs and occupying the crease on a bouncy surface in Perth, alongside Brisbane one of the two Ashes cities he had never experienced before this season.
“He played well. It was good to see him apply himself and show us how much of a good, natural player he is when he’s applying himself,” teammate Jack Edwards said of Konstas. “It was a nice knock, and hopefully next time he can make it a really big one.”
There will be some irritation about running past a straight delivery from Rocchiccioli to be stumped the delivery after reaching 50 – more so because the very next ball Josh Philippe was undone by bounce and taken at short leg. As was the case against India, Konstas is still working on managing his emotions.
“I feel like for me, I just love the game and I got caught in the moment – definitely,” he told this masthead in Sri Lanka during Australia’s recent Test tour. “First time playing with big crowds. I felt like the emotions got to me quite a bit, and hopefully if I do get into that scenario again I can control that a bit better.”
Konstas’ management remains hopeful of finding some county cricket for him to play in the early part of the English season before the world Test championship final, although that sort of opportunity may now best be found should injury befall one of the incumbent overseas players.
First, Konstas has one more Shield game, down in Hobart against Tasmania. For seasoned observers such as former Australian captain Mark Taylor, these domestic battles are critical to Konstas’ development.
“He’s not sure where he should play or how he should play. I’d be saying to Sam Konstas, ‘how did you get to the Australian cricket side?’ He got there playing orthodox cricket. Go back and play like that,” Taylor told Sports Sunday.
“Die by the way and live by the way that you play. He doesn’t play like he did in Boxing Day last summer. That’s not how he plays. He’s a much better player than that.”
