Cricket’s newest ‘boy wonder,’ Sam Konstas, is back in the spotlight, this time setting the stage alight in Lucknow. The young Australian opener, who previously made headlines for his fearless strokeplay against India’s star bowler Jasprit Bumrah at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, has now smashed a commanding century against India A.
Playing for Australia A on the opening day of their unofficial Test at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Stadium, Konstas’s brilliant knock has given his team an early advantage and significantly boosted his chances for selection in the upcoming Ashes series.
After winning the toss and electing to bat, Australia A seized the opportunity thanks to Konstas’s aggressive and fluent batting. He reached his century in just 122 balls, eventually departing after a spectacular 109 runs from only 114 deliveries, including 10 fours and three sixes, before being dismissed by Harsh Dubey.
His opening partner, Campbell Kellaway, provided excellent support with a strong 88 off 97 balls before his dismissal by Gurnoor Brar. Together, the duo forged an impressive 198-run opening stand, immediately putting the India A side under immense pressure.
This century holds significant importance for Konstas beyond just the score. Earlier this year, he faced a challenging tour of the West Indies, where he managed a mere 50 runs across six innings in red-ball cricket. This difficult period raised concerns about his long-term prospects in the format.
However, with veteran opener Usman Khawaja likely to secure one of the top spots for the Ashes, Konstas’s well-timed heroics in Lucknow could be a game-changer as selectors finalize the squad for the first Test against England in Perth on November 21.
Many cricket enthusiasts will vividly recall Konstas’s audacious Test debut, where he fearlessly confronted Jasprit Bumrah at the MCG. In a truly memorable innings, he confidently employed reverse scoops and other unconventional shots against one of the world’s premier bowlers.
To the roar of the crowd, the young talent notably ramped Bumrah for a boundary, followed by a six, and then another four, accumulating 14 runs in a single over. This remarkable performance made him only the second batter, after Jos Buttler, to hit two sixes off Bumrah in a single Test innings, and it was the first time since 2021 that Bumrah had conceded a six via a ramp shot in Tests.
Making his debut at just 19 years and 85 days old, Konstas etched his name in history as the youngest Australian opener in men’s Test cricket, the fourth youngest Australian male cricketer overall, and the second youngest to reach a half-century in men’s Tests. With this recent masterclass in Lucknow, this ‘boy wonder’ has undeniably captured the attention of the cricketing world once again.