Australia Calls Up 19-Year-Old Konstas for Boxing Day Test

In November, Konstas scored an unbeaten 73 runs for Australia A in a match against India A. Australia has selected 19-year-old opener Sam Konstas to join the squad for the remaining two Tests against India, replacing Nathan McSweeney, who has been dropped. Konstas, representing New South Wales, is poised to become the youngest male Australian Test batting debutant since Ian Craig in 1953. Although McSweeney was initially chosen over Konstas at the series’ commencement, he accumulated only 72 runs over six innings, averaging 14.40. George Bailey, Australia’s chief selector, stated that Konstas’ inclusion provides an opportunity to “throw something different” against India’s bowling attack. He commented, “I think Sam’s method and style is different to Nathan’s, should we go down that path.” Earlier in the current season, Konstas achieved two centuries playing against South Australia in the Sheffield Shield, making him the youngest player to accomplish this feat since Ricky Ponting in 1993. If the right-handed batsman is selected, he would be Australia’s youngest Test debutant since the current captain, Pat Cummins, who was 18 years and 193 days old when he played against South Africa in 2011. Additionally, seamer Jhye Richardson, whose last Test appearance was during the 2021-22 Ashes, has been recalled to the squad due to Josh Hazlewood’s injury. Quick bowler Sean Abbott and all-rounder Beau Webster, neither of whom has played a Test match, have been kept in the squad; they were previously called up in the series but did not make the starting XI. Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne, who have also faced difficulties at the top of the batting order similar to McSweeney, have maintained their positions in the squad. The Boxing Day Test match in Melbourne is scheduled to commence at 23:30 GMT on 25 December, with the series currently level at 1-1. Ball-by-ball commentary will be provided on BBC Sounds, BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, and the BBC Sport website and app, where video highlights will also be accessible (for UK users only). The Australian squad for the concluding two Tests against India includes: Pat Cummins (captain), Travis Head, Steve Smith, Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Jhye Richardson, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster. Konstas holds an average of 42.23 over 18 first-class innings. Konstas debuted for New South Wales in 2023, less than two months after turning 18, but has participated in only 11 first-class matches. A member of the Australian team that secured the Under-19 World Cup earlier this year, his significant performance occurred in October with two centuries against South Australia, where he scored 152 in the first innings (his inaugural first-class hundred) followed by 105 in the second. This season, he has accumulated 471 runs at an average of 58.87 in five Sheffield Shield matches and, on Tuesday, achieved a rapid fifty from 20 balls for Sydney Thunder in his Big Bash debut, thereby becoming the youngest player to score a fifty in that competition. Furthermore, he participated in a tour match for the Prime Ministers XI against the India squad between the first and second Tests, where he scored 107 runs from 97 balls facing an attack that included most of India’s Test players. He is scheduled to play in the Big Bash match against Sydney Sixers on Saturday before joining the Test squad.