BBL: Konstas Failed To Deliver In His 2nd Match Of Season
Sam Konstas faces early setback after Australian selection, got dismissed without scoring a run.
In the BBL 2nd match of Sam Konstas, he got out without scoring a single run after his selection in the remaining two Tests of BGT. 19-year-old Sam Konstas’ meteoric rise in Australian cricket took a dramatic turn after he was selected for the Australian team for the final two Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Despite his promising start, the young cricketer’s luck seemed to fade quickly following his selection.
A Bright Beginning with Big Bash Debut
Konstas is a right-handed opening batsman who came to prominence early in the season with an outstanding performance for the Big Bash League. In his first game, he showed exceptional aggression, scoring a blazing half-century off just 20 balls. His was an overnight sensation, and there was hardly anyone who doubted that this was one of the most exciting young talents in Australian cricket. The good start was enough to get him into the Australian team for the final two Tests against India.
Dropped McSweeney and Konstas’ Inclusion
Nathan McSweeney was left out of the Australian team after being announced for the fourth and fifth Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy to make way for Konstas. The 19-year-old young opener was provided a chance to showcase his international skills. While the exclusion from the team for McSweeney was disappointing, this move shows how much confidence the Australian selectors have bestowed on Konstas by choosing him based on his fast progression in domestic cricket.
Tough Luck in the Big Bash
But just four days later when his name got included in the Australian side, fate didn’t treat Konstas so favorably. While he was at bat, playing his second BBL game with Sydney Thunder, he got an even harder deal. Post selection for Australia, Konstas opened his bat and was on strike at Sydney Sixers, when within the very first over, he lost his wicket as he got bowled with zero runs.
Left-arm spinner Akeal Hussain caught him leg before on the third ball of his innings. This was an inauspicious occasion for Konstas, for this was only his second-ever professional T20 match. That he could not make much of a difference in this match does not help his form much, but it surely brought home the point that cricket is a game full of ups and downs.
Melbourne Test Debut on the Horizon
Despite a forgettable BBL outing, Konstas still has a place in Australia’s XI for the upcoming Melbourne Test. With the fourth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy likely to commence on December 26, it will probably be Konstas’s chance at his first Test appearance, with him opening with senior Australian opener Usman Khawaja. This is a great chance for the young cricketer, and everyone will watch him to see if he can repeat his success domestically at the international level.
Konstas has shown promise in practice games already. Prior to the day-night Test series against India, he scored a match 107 runs in a practice game against the Indian team. Konstas’ 107 off just 97 balls speak of his ability to face pressure. With a performance from the practice game and what he did in his first match in the Big Bash, Konstas is full of promise.
Sydney Thunder Narrowly Loses in BBL
Sydney Thunder vs Sydney Sixers Big Bash match saw Konstas’ team, Thunder, fail to make the most of a decent total and ultimately lost the match in a thrilling finish. Batting first, Sydney Thunder scored 163 for the loss of 5 wickets. Cameron Bancroft was the man of the match for Thunder as he remained unbeaten at 70 runs.
The batting efforts of Ben Dwarshuis provided some timely late runs with 20 runs coming from just 8 balls. But this time, the Sixers were able to chase the target in the last over and took a five-wicket win. Jordan Silk played a match-winning game for the Sixers with 36 not out on his way to his side finishing off the game on a high note.
Looking Ahead: A Bright Future
While Konstas may have had a rough start in his last game, his future looks bright for Australian cricket. He has been included in the Australian team for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, and the upcoming Melbourne Test might be the time when he will show off his skills. Everyone waits to see how he does at the international level, especially after what he did in domestic cricket. If Konstas can build on his talent and step up to the challenge, he could become a stalwart in Australia’s top order for many years.
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