At 19, Sam Konstas is young enough to be Usman Khawaja’s son.
But if they appear to be an odd couple, the reason the selectors are considering pitching Konstas in to open with 38-year-old Khawaja at the MCG on Boxing Day is that they may just be the most complementary pair of openers available.
Sam Konstas takes in the atmosphere of an empty MCG on Monday ahead of his expected debut on Boxing Day in front of a sellout crowd. Credit: Paul Jeffers
Since his 2022 comeback, Khawaja has flourished in the slipstream of David Warner. That did not always mean that Warner made big runs – far from it – but that his aggressive posture at the crease gave Khawaja room to move.
In the 24 Test matches where he opened with Warner, Khawaja notched 2083 runs at 54.81, with five of his 15 Test centuries. In 12 games where he has opened with others, Khawaja has made 790 runs at 41.57, with two centuries. Notably, his strike rate drops from 46 to 43.
Against a bowler as ruthless as Jasprit Bumrah, the inclusion of a more sedate player in Nathan McSweeney did not work. And when McSweeney tried to up his tempo in the second innings of the Gabba Test, he looked even less comfortable than before.
Marnus Labuschagne, too, has struggled for the most part to break up Bumrah’s rhythm. In an Australian set-up that reveres senior players and sends a consistent message to them along the lines of “you do you”, asking for changes in approach would cause whiplash.
That has brought Australia to Konstas, a pupil of the former Test opener Shane Watson, who formed his own productive union of opposites with Simon Katich. Asked on Monday about Watson, and also Bumrah, Konstas had a firm message: attack.
“I’m just trying to put pressure back on the bowlers,” Konstas said. “I admired Shane Watson a lot. I like to take the game on and put pressure on the bowlers, so I think he’s a legend of the game, and hopefully I can do that this week if I debut.”
Apart from his skill with the bat, Konstas’ confidence has already left a mark on teammates at domestic level. In the Sheffield Shield game at the MCG earlier this season, he could be heard chirping at the home side’s batters, including sometime Test players Marcus Harris and Pete Handscomb.
“If he gets the chance to play, turn the stump mics up when he’s at short leg because he’s got some good banter,” Sean Abbott said of Konstas. “He’s a funny young kid, and I’m looking forward to seeing how he goes about it if he gets an opportunity.
Usman Khawaja scores more freely with a proactive opening partner.Credit: Getty Images
“[He was] just getting into blokes about being scared, as I would be if Starcy [Mitchell Starc] was bowling fast thunderbolts. It wouldn’t matter if it’s Rohit [Sharma] or me batting there, it’ll be exactly the same. You’re in for some entertainment.
“The way he approaches the game, it doesn’t bother him who he’s up against, whether its guys like Marcus Harris and Pete Handscomb who’ve got a fair bit of experience, but he was pretty unfazed … it’s probably his most admirable attribute.”
Khawaja has looked fluent at the crease a few times this series, particularly the first innings in Brisbane, without going on from his starts. Konstas said the older man had sought him out and welcomed him to the squad in Melbourne on Sunday, and that they would speak further as the week went on.
“When I first watched him play it was with the Thunder probably, and hopefully I get to experience batting with him at the MCG,” Konstas said. “He’s a legend of the game, and I’m keen to learn from him.”
Konstas has never been in Melbourne for Boxing Day before. He nodded to his Greek heritage when quizzed on previous Christmas experiences, with plenty of food on offer but also some lengthy backyard batting sessions.
Of more recent value was that MCG Shield game, where Konstas was pinned lbw by Scott Boland on day one but recalibrated quickly to play well on day three amid a heavy defeat for NSW.
“He’s a world class bowler and this is his venue, everyone loves him, but it was a great challenge,” Konstas said. “He got me out, but I’m [playing against] the best bowlers, trying to get better, and understand different tactics.”
Watson and Konstas have gelled over the mental skills of the game, something that is hoped will give the teenager a head start in terms of handling the enormity of the occasion. It’s quite a hurdle to be pondering.
“It’s happened really quick to be honest,” he said. “I wasn’t too fazed about it, I feel like I’m a pretty relaxed person and just trying to live in the moment.”
And Watson’s advice? “Just another day at it, back myself and be fearless.”
