Bharat: No Ashes guarantee for Konstas after shocker

The verdict is in on Sam Konstas and it’s not good news, according to Bharat Sundaresan who believes there is no guarantees he will feature in the Ashes this summer.

It was another brutal day for the teen who fell for a duck in Australia’s second innings of the third Test against the West Indies in Kingston.

After making 17 in the first dig, Konstas lasted just five balls of his second knock, caught at gully by Roston Chase after a thick edge off Shamar Joseph.

The 19-year-old, who cut a forlorn figure as he strode back to the dressing rooms, has struggled this series. He finishes with just 50 runs at an average of 8.33 - the lowest average by an Aussie opener in a Test tour of the West Indies since 1984.

Konstas has scored 3, 5, 25, 0, 17 and 0 on this tour.

“Two ducks and should have been three he was dropped twice in Barbados,” Sundaresan said non SEN’s The New Ball.

“The feet don’t go anywhere. We saw some technical changes coming into this Test but you don’t see him leaning into shots.

“Last week we spoke about how shattered he looked. Here he looked hapless, as you would after the series he’s had. He looked at the replay and put his head down and off he went.

“I said the jury was still out and now it’s in. He is no longer the incumbent for that position. There is no guarantee he is the opener in Perth.

“One decent score we could have argued that he looked convincing, and we could say he only needs a few good scores in Shield cricket. The incumbency is lost, and he is back in the mix with everyone, I can’t see the guarantee.

“He is competing with Harris and Bancroft and Renshaw and those coming through the ranks. All cards are on the table. Bring on the Shield, it’s an opening bat-off.

“I don’t think anything else can matter anymore it will come down to the Shield. It’s closer to the Test series and will be played on pitches similar to what we will see in the series.”

SEN Cricket’s Adam White suggests the latest Konstas knock only provides Australian selectors with more questions ahead of this summer’s Ashes.

“He’s been taken in the gully, Konstas gone for a duck. His last innings in the West Indies and his last opportunity ahead of the Ashes in green and gold colours and he falls without scoring," White said.

“Comfortably taken and Sam Konstas goes without scoring. More questions, certainly no answers.

“These are the toughest conditions in Test cricket in an environment that is pretty hostile.

“It was an open face, glided away rather than the outside edge. A simple catch was made and he’s on his way.

“It’s hard to put into words and the same old questions but no answers. Maybe it isn’t Sam Konstas. He’s had six opportunities here in the West Indies.

“A simple catch.”

Fellow opener Usman Khawaja was unfortunately also dismissed early in the third session on Day 2, bowled by Shamar when chopping on for 14.

Steve Smith also played on from Alzarri Joseph for just five while Travis Head (16), Beau Webster (16) and Alex Carey (0) all fell cheaply.

The visitors were 6/99 at stumps with a lead of 181 runs. Cam Green was in good nick on 42 not out with captain Pat Cummins unbeaten alongside him on five. 

Image from Bharat Sundaresan on X.