Teenage prodigy Sam Konstas squandered a golden chance to impress national selectors by departing for a third-ball duck in Australia A’s clash with India A on Thursday as Cameron Bancroft and Marcus Harris also failed to impress.
A day that had been billed as a battle between four contenders for the opening spot ended with three of the quartet failing to make a strong case for inclusion in the team that will play in the first Test against India in Perth on November 22.
After the early carnage that saw Konstas and Bancroft both failing to score a run and Harris mustering just 17, South Australian captain Nathan McSweeney compiled an unbeaten innings of 29 from 109 deliveries before the day’s play ended.
That performance helped Australia recover from a 3-26 hole to reach 4-99 at stumps. That is just eight runs behind India A’s first innings total.
India A batted first and struggle to be all out for 107 in 47.4 overs. Seam bowler Brendan Doggett finished with an impressive 6-15.
When it was Australia A’s turn to bat, Konstas lasted just three balls.
A healthy edge to wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan was the worst possible outcome for a 19-year-old who had scored back-to-back Sheffield Shield centuries less than a month ago.
Fortunately for the New South Welshman, his new teammates also didn’t take their opportunities as Bancroft was given out caught behind for a 14-ball duck - to a delivery that hit his thigh pad on the way through - before Harris perished for 17 after being dropped on eight.
Sam Konstas of Australia A leaves the field after being dismissed for a duck on Thursday. Credit: Getty Images
Harris’ inability to make the most of his luck and the poor shot he played did not improve his chances of playing Test cricket for the first time since 2022.
The exasperated look on Bancroft’s face as he left the field summed up his woes. The country’s most reliable and consistent opener in domestic cricket over the past two seasons has now made 10 runs across five first-class innings in October.
It was a horror audition for the country’s best next-in-line batsmen in front of national selector Tony Dodemaide, and places great emphasis on the second innings of a match in which not everyone might bat again.
McSweeney, who usually bats at No.3 for South Australia, came in at No.4 on Thursday. He could now be thrown into open against India in Perth should selectors reward one of the country’s most in-form batters at domestic level.
A few hours earlier in Melbourne, Australian coach Andrew McDonald was asked about the fortunes of the potential Test openers. He stressed, with a smile, that selectors hadn’t settled on David Warner’s replacement and wouldn’t do so until after the second Australia A fixture that ends on November 10.
However, McDonald did highlight why Konstas’ lack of experience could count against him ahead of the first Test in Perth on November 22.
Nathan McSweeney bunkers down against India A.Credit: Getty Images
“If you take Sam for example, he’s had limited experience in Perth, pink ball games, and then [we are] off to the Gabba. So there’s incredible challenges for players who haven’t played in those conditions before. It’s not to say he can’t do that either, he’s a fast learner.
“Then you look at Marcus Harris. It wasn’t that long ago he played a blinding innings here against England. He got [76], and the percentage of runs in that game was hugely important. So everyone’s got an avenue.”
McSweeney who has the most to gain on day two in Mackay with three other top-order batsmen from rival states left wondering what could have been.
