It’s not every day one stumbles upon their childhood hero in the nets at a local cricket field.
But it happened for Sam Konstas — one of the highest-rated prospects in New South Wales cricket — when a chance meeting with Australian great Shane Watson altered the trajectory of his career forever.
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“I was lucky enough to see him bat at the Woollahra Oval nets,” Konstas told foxsports.com.au.
“He was just such a nice bloke, I had a chat to him about his batting.
“He’s been my idol all my years watching him play. It’s just pretty crazy. Even talking to him gives me goosebumps just thinking about it.
“He gives me so much advice. I’m like a sponge, trying to soak up as much information as I can.”
Watson now acts as a personal mentor to the batting prodigy, who has only just turned 18 and is preparing for the HSC.
Whatever advice Watson has passed on, it has most certainly worked.
Earlier this year Konstas broke the record for most First Grade runs in a season for Sutherland, a club where the likes of Watson, Steve Smith and Phil Jacques all came through before going on to enjoy a Test career for Australia.
Konstas also became the first player in Sutherland history to score 1000 runs across all grades in just his first season at the club having moved over from St George.
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Konstas’ outstanding season earned him a spot in Australia’s under-19 squad that toured England, despite being just 17 at the time.
He certainly left an impression, scoring 105* off 120 deliveries in Australia’s second ODI at Beckenham as well as an impressive 84* in the second innings of the first Test against England’s under-19s.
Konstas described the experience as “breathtaking” and also learned plenty about placing faith in a process Watson helped him develop.
It is the same process that has catapulted his name into the conversation of who could be the next big thing in Australian cricket, with Fox Cricket commentator Kerry O’Keeffe singing his praises last summer.
“Before the game I’ll meditate and visualise how I want to play,” Konstas said.
“Then during the game, I’d do breathing techniques and have internal dialogue when I bat. I’ll say, ‘Where’s the ball, where’s the ball,’ and just control my breathing. I try to do that as long as I can.”
Although a potential berth in the Australian team may be some years away, Konstas was fortunate enough to have had a brief taste of what that life could be like.
Konstas was invited to be a water boy for the Test team when they faced South Africa at the Sydney Cricket Ground in the New Year’s Test.
The opportunity to be a part of the inner sanctum, if only for a few days, was one he snatched at with a vice-like grip.
“Just looking at (David) Warner, (Steve) Smith, (Marnus) Labuschagne, I’m like, ‘Holy crap,’” Konstas said.
“I was just standing there gobsmacked.
“When I was running out the drinks when Smith tonned up, they were all clapping for him and I just had goosebumps running everywhere.
“I was thinking, ‘Holy crap, imagine if I can do this one day.’
“I’ve been watching them ever since I was young and just to be a part of that and see what they do is pretty cool.”
Such is Konstas’ adoration for Smith, he latched on to him and absorbed every bit of advice the former skipper had to offer.
The teenager even took home a little souvenir, with Smith handing him “his 30th bat” after mustering up the courage to ask for it.
Konstas also got the chance to face the likes of Scott Boland and Lance Morris in a nets session.
On paper, it’s quite the leap to go from swatting away deliveries from grade cricketers to then taking on Australia’s bowling attack, but somehow Konstas “wasn’t quite nervous.”
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“At this age, no-one’s going to do what I’ve been doing in facing the best bowlers in Australia,” Konstas said.
“It was just an awesome experience facing them.
“Even though they were quick and bowling a bit nasty, I love being in the contest and in the battle.”
Having achieved all that he has before his 18th birthday, it would be all too easy for Konstas’ head to balloon beyond proportion, even if the hype so far appears justified.
Yet he remains wise beyond his years, blocking out all the noise much like he blocks a fine delivery at Glenn McGrath Oval.
“It obviously helps that I don’t have any social media, but I don’t get too fazed about that (the hype),” Konstas said.
“I’m just trying to live in the moment and be the best version of myself, which Watto taught me.
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“There’s a lot of things that can happen in the future and may happen, but I’m just very grateful for what I have now and trying to live in the present and hopefully aspire to reach my future goals.”
Of course, the biggest goal of Konstas’ is to earn that famous baggy green and follow in the footsteps of Sutherland’s greats, but there is plenty more to conquer before he reaches the international arena.
So, how does Konstas want to look back on the upcoming summer when it’s all said and done early next year?
“I’ll hopefully play a few NSW games, that would probably be the big goal,” Konstas said.
“Just try to dominate whatever I play and get runs in whatever competition I play, whether that’s first grade, PG (Poidevin Gray competition), NSW 2nd XI.
“Give it a good crack and see what happens, then hopefully other opportunities arise.”
