Fresh off becoming the third youngest player to hit two centuries in the same Sheffield Shield match, Sam Konstas’ push for a shock Test debut has gained momentum after he was named in Australia A’s squad to face the touring Indians.
Selectors revealed a 17-man squad for two four-day matches against India A in Mackay and Melbourne in early November, as a lead-in to the summer’s blockbuster five-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy series.
25-year old South Australian up-and-comer Nathan McSweeney will captain the team, while Konstas looks set to vie with former Test regulars Cameron Bancroft and Marcus Harris to open the batting in the team.
The two chosen could well have the inside running on the now-vacant spot in Australia’s order left by Cameron Green, who will miss the summer after opting for surgery on a back stress fracture.
Konstas, 19, emerged as a bona fide candidate for a maiden baggy green cap after hitting two centuries against South Australia in the opening Sheffield Shield round – his fifth first-class match – the youngest man to do so since an 18-year old Ricky Ponting 31 years ago.
He is no stranger to international cricket, either, rising to prominence with a century at the U19 Cricket World Cup earlier this year against the West Indies.
“(Konstas) is five games into his first-class career. He looks really organised and composed at the crease,” chief selector George Bailey said.
“It’s good recognition that he’s been given the opportunity to play Australia A but I don’t think it’s to the detriment or taking your eye off how consistent Cam Bancroft and Marcus Harris have been.”
Another major contender to replace Green is in-form Tasmanian all-rounder Beau Webster, who also began the Shield season with a century against Victoria.
The 30-year old was the leading run-scorer last Shield season, making 938 runs at an average of 58.62 with three centuries.
The selection is Webster’s first call-up to the Australia A squad since 2016.
While Australia’s Test bowling attack is largely set in stone, six fast bowlers and two spinners have been named in the Australia A squad to fight it out for reserve duties across the summer.
Victorian Todd Murphy, Nathan Lyon’s deputy for the past two years who replaced him in the 2023 Ashes, and Western Australian spinner Corey Rocchiccioli, will likely vie for the spinner’s spot in the final XI, while long-term understudies Scott Boland and Michael Neser are expected to lead the pace attack alongside Jordan Buckingham, Nathan McAndrew, Mark Steketee and Victorian young gun Fergus O’Neill.
Josh Philippe and Jimmy Peirson are the two wicketkeepers named in the squad, with Alex Carey’s likely main rival for Test duties, Josh Inglis, to face Pakistan in November’s ODI series instead.
Australia A squad to face India A: Nathan McSweeney (c), Cameron Bancroft, Scott Boland, Jordan Buckingham, Cooper Connolly, Ollie Davies, Marcus Harris, Sam Konstas, Nathan McAndrew, Michael Neser, Todd Murphy, Fergus O’Neill, Jimmy Peirson, Josh Philippe, Corey Rocchiccioli, Mark Steketee, Beau Webster.
with AAP