Rising Aussie cricket star Sam Konstas is reportedly eyeing up a surprise move to play in England ahead of this year’s World Test Championship final and the upcoming Ashes series.
The 19-year-old opener was sent home from Sri Lanka yesterday after failing to secure a spot in the Baggy Greens’ squad for their opening test in Galle.
A stomach bug had also hampered the youngster’s hopes of booking a spot in the starting XI, with Konstas subsequently flying home in hopes of getting back to action with his Sheffield Shield side, New South Wales.
After an incredible summer, where the young batter would dazzle on his Test debut at the MCG, Konstas is now looking to book himself a spot in Pat Cummins’ side for their upcoming clash against South Africa at Lord’s.
And in a bid to prepare himself for the match, The Sydney Morning Herald reports that Konstas could look to secure himself a deal with a County Championship side.
Konstas will now miss the second Test in Galle and instead could be available for New South Wales’ clash against Queensland, which kicks off on Saturday at the Gabba.
Rising Aussie cricket star Sam Konstas is reportedly eyeing up a surprise move to play in England ahead of this year’s World Test Championship final
The outlet adds that his management is currently ‘in talks with county teams’ and adds that he could land in England on a short-term deal
The outlet adds that his management is currently ‘in talks with county teams’ and adds that he could land in England on a short-term deal.
Konstas is eager to learn more about playing cricket in England and facing English opponents as he prepares for his maiden Ashes back in Australia next summer.
But the decision to send Konstas back to Australia has been questioned by some in the wider cricket community.
‘I was surprised he didn’t play,’ Michael Clarke said to ESPN.
‘And he wasn’t given that opportunity.
‘I believe on that pitch and [against] that attack he probably would’ve had success. It would have been good for him to play in those conditions.’
And speaking on the decision to head back home early from this summer’s tour, Konstas said to The Age: ‘I totally understood the decision (not to play in the first Test), Travis Head’s a legend of the game and he’s been dominating in these conditions up top.
‘So for me, it was trying to get exposure to Dubai (and) Sri Lanka, try to learn and I feel like I learned quite a bit about things if I do play in the subcontinent.
The young batter dazzled on his Test debut at the MCG and is now looking to book himself a spot in Pat Cummins’ side for their upcoming clash against South Africa at Lord’s
Konstas said that the ‘totally understood the decision’ to send him home early from Sri Lanka
‘It’s been a huge honour being in the squad and learning from the likes of Travis Head, Steve Smith, Usman Khawaja, the way they go about it.’
Meanwhile, huge doubts have been cast over Pat Cummins’ fitness for Australia’s upcoming champions trophy.
The Test captain picked up an ankle injury over the summer and it has been battling the issue for some time.
Josh Hazlewood is still struggling to battle back from a calf injury that ruled him out of the majority of this summer’s Test series against India.
