MELBOURNE: Teenager Sam Konstas fired a reminder to selectors Saturday with a gritty unbeaten 73 as two of his rivals to open for Australia in the first of five Tests against India were out for golden ducks.

Australia is yet to decide who will fill the opening spot left vacant by the retirement of David Warner and partner Usman Khawaja in the first Test starting at Perth on November 22.

They are expected to name their squad on Sunday.

The 19-year-old Konstas surged into contention with back-to-back Sheffield Shield centuries for New South Wales this season.

But he appeared to have blown his chances in three previous innings for Australia A against India A, scoring 16, 0 and 3.

He finally came good in his last opportunity to impress when India A set the hosts 168 to win in their four-day game at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

Konstas steered them to a six-wicket victory batting at number four, with seven fours and a six in his 128-ball stay.

Beau Webster was not out 46.

At the same time, chief rivals Nathan McSweeney, Marcus Harris and Cameron Bancroft all fell cheaply.

McSweeney propelled himself into pole position for Warner’s spot with 39 and an unbeaten 88 in the first four-day red-ball clash in Mackay last week, but only scored 14 and 25 at the MCG.

Harris, who is looking to add to his 14 Test caps, hit a patient 74 on Friday, but was out first ball in the second innings.

Bancroft’s hopes of resurrecting his Test career were already slim after failing to fire in Mackay and now appear non-existent after he too was out for a golden duck.

Published in Dawn, November 10th, 2024