Konstas Responds Elegantly to Difficult Selector Decision

Head survives as Sri Lanka skip review! | 00:31

Sam Konstas was all class in his response to being dropped for the first Test against Sri Lanka as Cricket Australia selector Tony Dodemaide explained the call to leave out the 19-year-old.

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While Konstas quickly emerged as a fan favourite after exploding onto the scene with his fearless approach in two Tests against India, the rising teenage star was omitted from the final XI on Wednesday, with the previously uncapped Josh Inglis taking his place.

Speaking to the touring press before play, Dodemaide explained the thinking behind the decision while also revealing Konstas’ reaction to being dropped — which was everything you would expect.

“There’s a lot to like and be impressed about Sam,” Dodemaide told reporters on Wednesday.

“One of the things is his ability to take things in his stride. It’s remarkable really, whether it’s playing in front of 90,000 and Jasprit Bumrah at the MCG or getting told that you’re left out of the Test.

“He was like, ‘Oh yeah mate, no stress. I get it’.”

But for those who don’t, Dodemaide had a simple explanation as for why Konstas was left out.

“We haven’t won here in 14 years and that’s a point of pride for everybody and also we hold every bilateral series at the moment and this group is very proud of that. So the starting point was we’re here to win the series,” he said.

“The way we structured in India was very effective with Travis at the top and that’s where his value is. That created an opportunity lower down the order and Josh we felt has a very proactive game, a very skilful batter in his own right.

“He’s also very busy, a disruptive player, he’s got options on both sides of the wicket particularly against spin, he’s played a lot on the subcontinent as well, and we felt he deserved that opportunity.”

Dodemaide said that while it was still “very difficult” to drop a “hugely talented” player like Konstas, given he had not toured the subcontinent before it made sense to have Travis Head open with Usman Khawaja instead.

“He hasn’t played a lot in this part of the world but he’ll learn quickly and the opportunity to have him here … it’s an investment in the future to spend time around Smith, Khawaja, Labuschagne and see how they go about it here,” Dodemaide added.

Dodemaide wouldn’t guarantee Konstas a spot for the Ashes series later this year but did maintain that the 19-year-old is a key part of the team’s future.

“We won’t pre-empt what’s happening there, but clearly he’s done a lot right hasn’t he? He’s an exciting talent,” he said.

“We’re looking for those successor players to come in, there will be some turnover naturally in the next couple of years or so and he’s very much staked a claim.”