Kerry O’Keeffe has thrown up a surprise contender to take over from David Warner as his long-term opening replacement.
Warner, who has been named in the first Test squad versus Pakistan, looks set to play three more matches in the format where he’ll retire following the New Year’s Test in Sydney.
While O’Keeffe thinks that the three frontrunners to replace Warner thereafter in Cameron Bancroft, Marcus Harris and Matt Renshaw all deserve consideration, particularly the West Australian, he does feel the trio all have a ceiling in terms of what they can achieve at the next level.
Looking ahead to who he thinks could be Australia’s next star opener, O’Keeffe threw up the name of New South Welshman Sam Konstas who just turned 18 in October and made his First Class debut in the last Shield round against Tasmania.
Konstas has been a prolific scorer for Sutherland in Sydney Grade cricket where he broke the record for most First Grade runs in a season at the club last campaign. An impressive feat given Steve Smith, Shane Watson and Phil Jacques all played for the Sharks.
“Look all three deserve consideration,” O’Keeffe told SEN.com.au.
“Bancroft in particular, he's got six Sheffield Shield hundreds in the last year and a half.
“I think all three have a ceiling, but the best young opening bat I've seen in the last couple of years is Sam Konstas who's just debuted for New South Wales batting three.
“It's too early, of course. But he's been a prolific scorer in under-19 international cricket.
“He's also been a prolific scorer in Grade and underage cricket in Sydney.”
Konstas, who is mentored by Watson, also shone for Australia in their recent under-19 tour of England where he scored 105 not out in an ODI and 85 not out in a Test despite being just 17 at the time.
O’Keeffe believes NSW think Konstas is the real deal, as shown by him batting at number three on his First Class debut.
As a result, he thinks the young gun is destined for bigger things and will soon begin mounting a case to play Test cricket.
“I've watched Sam a bit, Shane Watson mentors him,” O’Keeffe said.
“This is a guy who appears destined, but he's only 18 years of age.
“If New South Wales are prepared to bat him number three on debut, where you’d normally bat the teenager at six, they think they have the real deal in Sam Konstas.
“So, I'm inclined to think … he’s only played one First Class game, but down the track, I think he'll probably get runs, go from number three for New South Wales to open and present a case (for Test cricket).”
Konstas signed with the Sydney Thunder for the BBL|13 season last Friday and will hope to keep his place in New South Wales’ Shield side for their next clash in early February against WA.
