If Sam Konstas was a “kid in a candy shop” on Test debut in Melbourne, as his captain Pat Cummins described it, the 19-year-old Sydneysider has more treats coming his way this week.
The Sydney Cricket Ground is set to witness history on Friday when Australia host India in the fifth and final Test of the Border-Gavaskar series.
Konstas is poised to become the youngest Australian player to feature in a Test at the SCG, which hosted its first international match 142 years ago in 1882.
Konstas debuted on Boxing Day at the age of 19 years and 85 days, becoming the fourth-youngest Australian first-gamer behind Ian Craig (17 years, 239 days), Cummins (18 years, 193 days) and Tom Garrett (18 years, 232 days).
Konstas will be 19 years and 93 days on Friday, when the fifth Test gets underway in Sydney, the city in which he grew up and still resides with his parents, in Hurstville.
He will become the youngest Australian Test player at the SCG since Gervys Hazlitt, an Australian bowler who debuted at the venue in December 1907 at the age of 19 years and 100 days.
Sam Konstas and Pat Cummins celebrate Australia’s victory on Monday.Credit: Getty Images
Only four 19-year-olds have featured in a Test for Australia at the SCG: Hazlitt (1907), John Cottam (1887), JJ Ferris (1887) and Craig McDermott (1984).
Ian Craig never played a Test in Sydney, while it took Garrett five years after his debut to get a game at the SCG.
When it comes to overseas players, Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar scored a hundred as an 18-year-old at the SCG in 1992. Derek Sealy (West Indies), Parthiv Patel (India), Waqar Younis (Pakistan) and Saqlain Mushtaq (Pakistan) have also played at the SCG as 18-year-olds.
Cummins, who hugged Konstas when Nathan Lyon took Australia’s final wicket at the MCG on Monday, hit the winning runs against South Africa on debut in 2011 but didn’t play a Test in Sydney until he was 24.
Sam Konstas at the SCG. Credit: Kate Geraghty
“I’ve always felt like one of the younger guys in the team and then seeing Sammy as a 19-year-old geeing up the crowd, I feel quite old,” Cummins said after Australia’s 184-run win delivered a 2-1 series lead.
It takes a lot to impress stalwarts like Cummins, Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne, but Konstas was an instant hit with his new teammates after a breathtaking 60 from 65 balls on Boxing Day that will forever be remembered for a series of bold ramp shots off Jasprit Bumrah.
“It was unreal … the bravery that he showed on day one,” Cummins said. “He’s got that no fear kind of mindset, which is amazing. I hope he keeps that. He takes the game on, revs up the crowd and doesn’t shy away from any contest. I love the swagger he brings.”
Head coach Andrew McDonald said only one thing had surprised him about Konstas.
Sam Konstas lifts his cap to the crowd.Credit: Getty Images
“We knew what we were getting into as selectors,” McDonald said. “Did we get a little bit more than what we expected? No doubt about that. I think people talk about heavy-duty runs in the first innings and he put pressure back on and allowed our middle order to get to work.
“The conversation was how early was he going to get into those proactive shots? [Doing it on his] 12th ball did surprise me a little bit. I think he’s a fast learner, so I think things are on the right path.”
Asked if selectors took satisfaction knowing the Konstas call paid off, following commentary around not enough tough selections being made, McDonald said: “It doesn’t give us any satisfaction. It’s for other people to talk about what decisions are hard and what aren’t. We’re there to do a job and make the best decision with the information that we’ve got … you’ll critique that in hindsight.”
Sam Konstas showed the hype is justified.Credit: Getty Images
It wasn’t just Konstas’ batting that lit up the Melbourne Test. He played up to the crowd in the field and performed a series of stretches in the outfield that had fans imitating the youngster just like Merv Hughes all those years ago.
Konstas was also very chatty in the field, particularly close to the bat, to the point where it began unsettling India’s young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal.
“He’s mad,” Smith said of Konstas on Channel Seven. “I think he really enjoyed himself under the lid. He was chirping. At one point I think Jaiswal was actually trying to hit the ball at him to try and shut him up a bit. He brought great energy and real confidence. It’s nice to see him start so well in his first Test match. I think he has a bright future.”
Bumrah ultimately got Konstas’ wicket in the second innings, which has set the scene for a tantalising re-match at the SCG – a ground where Konstas has played four-class matches for a return of 235 runs at 33.57.
A huge contingent of Konstas’ family, friends and cricket acquaintances are expected to descend on the SCG to cheer him on as Australia push for a famous series win.
“Sam’s a very confident young player … and I love that about him,” Labuschagne said.
“He’ll love that Bumrah (has) revved it up and I’m sure he’ll be ready to go for the next innings.”
