Sam Konstas’ unbeaten 73 helps AUS ‘A’ sweep IND ‘A’ 2-0

After three failures in as many innings, there were fears that teenager Sam Konstas might have been fast-tracked to the senior set-up way too soon, with him still being green and not ready.

But in the fourth innings of the second unofficial Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), the 19-year-old showed exactly why he’s been primed for a Test call-up despite having just a handful of first-class appearances under his belt as he hammered an unbeaten 73 in a tricky chase to help Australia ‘A’ clean sweep India ‘A’ in the unofficial Test series.

After being set 168 to chase, Konstas, despite being slotted at No.4, walked in after just three balls as both Marcus Harris and Cameron Bancroft perished for a golden duck. He encountered a fiery Prasidh Krishna and an Indian seam attack that was fired up and on point overall. But the youngster first saw off the new ball threat exceptionally, building a patient 47-run stand with Nathan McSweeney to take some sting off the bowling before shifting gears and taking Australia ‘A’ home in clinical fashion. At 73/4, he put together an unbroken 96-run stand with Beau Webster to seal it for the hosts.

Earlier in the day, superb showings from Dhruv Jurel (68), Nitish Reddy (38) and Tanush Kotian (44) helped India ‘A’ recover from 56/5 to post 229 and set the hosts a challenging target.

Western Australia off-spinner Corey Rocchiccioli was the pick of the bowlers for Australia ‘A’ on the day as he removed danger-man Jurel and finished with four wickets to cut short the tourists’ innings.

Jurel, with scores of 80 & 68 in the game, might have just sealed his place for the first Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test in Perth. But it remains to be seen who will partner Usman Khawaja up top for Australia. 

Bancroft has batted himself out of contention but all of Konstas, McSweeney and Harris have made very good cases. But McSweeney, the top run-getter in the series with 166 runs, seems to be the front-runner to take the vacant spot. 

McSweeney perished for 25 in the fourth innings, but he dealt with the new ball threat masterfully and set up the innings for Konstas to thrive. 

Australia’s 13-man squad for the first Test in Perth is expected to be announced tomorrow (November 10). 

If you’ve not downloaded the Cricket.com app yet, you’re missing out on our content — big time. Download the App here