NEW DELHI: Ahead of the Boxing Day Test against India, Australian selectors have called up uncapped teenager Sam Konstas, aiming to inject a fresh dynamic into their top-order batting. Selection chair George Bailey explained the decision, emphasizing the need for a different approach to counter India’s formidable pace attack.
Bailey acknowledged that Australia’s current top three – Usman Khawaja, Nathan McSweeney, and Marnus Labuschagne – have struggled to keep the scoreboard moving, with strike rates of 46.3, 33.9, and 33.2 respectively in the series.
“You can say the way our top three have been playing has been reasonably similar, and we’d like the ability to throw something different at India,” Bailey said. “If you look more broadly, I don’t think necessarily the top six has functioned to the level that we need in this series as a whole.”
By comparison, India’s top three – KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Shubman Gill – have adopted a more aggressive approach, striking above 50 runs per 100 balls faced. This disparity in intent has highlighted the need for Australia to counterattack rather than merely survive against Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj’s relentless pace.
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Bailey noted that Konstas’ batting style offers a point of difference: “I think Sam’s method and style is different to Nathan’s… and different again to Beau (Webster) and Josh (Inglis) as the other batting options within that squad.”
While Konstas is in contention for a debut, other options include reshuffling the order or promoting auxiliary batter Josh Inglis to open – a role he has filled in white-ball formats but never in first-class cricket.
The selectors also bolstered the squad with all-rounder Beau Webster and pacers Sean Abbott and Jhye Richardson, considering the three-day turnaround between the Melbourne and Sydney Tests.
“Looking forward, Melbourne-Sydney is clearly a quick turnaround. We’re just making sure we’ve got options between those two Tests,” he said.
The Boxing Day Test at the MCG, with the series tied 1-1, promises to be a litmus test for Australia’s revamped lineup.
Australia squad: Pat Cummins (c), Travis Head (vc), Steve Smith (vc), Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Jhye Richardson, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster
