Neil D’Costa, a notable Australian batting coach, has advised against fast-tracking 19-year-old Sam Konstas into Test cricket for the upcoming series against India. Citing Prithvi Shaw’s experience, D’Costa believes Konstas is not yet prepared for the five-day format, warning that rushing his debut could be detrimental.
D’Costa, who has previously coached Michael Clarke, Phillip Hughes, and Mitchell Starc, has also worked with Konstas on his batting skills. However, Konstas is currently coached by Tahmid Islam and Shane Watson.
D’Costa, now coaching Marnus Labuschagne, emphasized that giving Konstas a Test debut now could limit his potential. “He could be a good player for 100 Tests. If they put him in now, he might only play 10 Tests,” he told the ‘Sydney Morning Herald’.
Konstas, along with Marcus Harris and Cameron Bancroft, is in the running to be Usman Khawaja’s opening partner in the series starting November 22 in Perth. D’Costa recommends that Konstas should gain more experience in Sheffield Shield cricket before making his Test debut.
“Let him play two years of Sheffield Shield. Let him understand the grounds, the flow of the game, himself, and the game,” said D’Costa.
Konstas has recently shown potential with back-to-back Sheffield Shield centuries for New South Wales, but his performances in subsequent matches have been less consistent.
D’Costa, a Level 3 coach with degrees in Sports Science, Sports Coaching, and Psychology, suggests that maintaining a patient approach with young talents like Konstas is crucial for their long-term success in international cricket.