Former Australia opener Ricky Ponting believes Sam Konstas has what it takes to make a mark in the Border Gavaskar Trophy.
Ponting hopes that the 19-year-old debutant has the talent and demeanour to make the most of any opportunity that arises during the remainder of the Test series against India.
Australia has made changes in the playing 11 for the fourth test after the series evenly poised at 1-1 heading into the final two tests. Sam Konstas has been called in place of Nathan McSweeney.
Konstas will make his debut in a highly intense clash as both sides aim for an unassailable lead which is crucial to secure the WTC finals spot.
“I’ve seen a lot, there’s a lot of talent there no doubt about it,” Ponting told.
He is in!
Sam Konstas is set to make his Test debut on Boxing Day while a star batter remains an uncertainty #AUSvIND
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— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 24, 2024
“The way he played in the PM’s XI game (he scored 107 against the Indians), the way that he was able to approach his first BBL game the other night … I know it’s different formats, but you can see that the talent is there and there’s also a bit of an attitude to go with it.
“And not a bad attitude, (but) an attitude that he knows that he’s good and he wants to show the world that he’s good.”
Featuring for the Prime Minister’s Xl in a two day game against the touring Indians after the Perth test. Konstas attracted the spotlight with a century against the visitors.
Konstas has 718 runs at an average of 42.2 in 11 FC matches including two centuries and three half-centuries.
However, for all early success, Ponting emphasised the uncapped batter would still feels the jitters on his debut when facing India’s spearhead Jasprit Bumrah.
“There’s still a challenge there,” he said. “It’s a Test match. It’s your first Test match. You’re playing against some of the best bowlers in the world.
“It probably doesn’t get any bigger in world cricket right now. It’s like any other country debuting an opening batsman against our bowling attack, when you’ve got Starc, Cummins and Hazelwood there.
“Bumrah has obviously been the standout and probably the leading fast bowler in Test cricket at the moment. So Konstas will have a great challenge there, no doubt about it.”
But Ponting is confident on Konstas will be up for a fight. “I don’t think he’s the sort of guy who’d be too worried about it,” Ponting said. “I think he’ll be excited by it. He’ll want to try and put some pressure back on with the way that he plays.
“Like he’s not anyone that’s going to sit there and be five off 50 balls. He’s either going to be up and going or he’s going to be out a bit earlier on than that.
“He’ll try and find ways to impose himself on the contest, which is one of the things I think everyone likes about him.”
The third match of the BGT ended in draw after the rain spoiled the game on day 05 and both sides have one victory each. The fourth match of the Australia-India tests will be played beginning on December 26 at Melbourne Cricket Ground.
