McDonald Urges Patience on Konstas' Test Future Amid Early Struggles

Konstas' Test Career: Premature to Pass Judgment, Says Coach McDonald

Australia's coach, Andrew McDonald, has cautioned against prematurely judging Sam Konstas' Test career, emphasizing that it is too early to draw conclusions after only a handful of matches. McDonald's comments come amidst the ongoing Test series against the West Indies, where Konstas has faced challenges. The coach also indicated that strong domestic performances could influence team selection for the upcoming Ashes series.

Konstas has struggled for form in the ongoing WI series (Courtesy: AP)

Konstas, who debuted in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against India in 2024-25, initially impressed with his aggressive batting style. However, his form has dipped in the current series against the West Indies.

Early Career Struggles

Across four innings, Konstas has accumulated a mere 33 runs, averaging 8.25 with a highest score of 25. Despite these modest returns, captain Pat Cummins voiced his support for the young opener following the second Test. Now, head coach McDonald has also defended Konstas, suggesting he is still adjusting to the pressures of Test cricket.

McDonald acknowledged the challenges that Test cricket presents, noting that they extend beyond technical skills. He highlighted the importance of managing pressure and external factors. "Four games in, eight innings, it's probably early for anyone to judge, really," McDonald stated, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. "I think the challenges in Test cricket aren't necessarily always your skill level or your technique. It's dealing with the moments, the pressure, all the other things that externally come with that as well. He's a player finding his feet in the environment."

Signs of Progress

McDonald referenced Konstas' score of 25 in the first innings of the second Test as a positive sign. He believed it indicated progress, noting the positive intent displayed in Konstas' first 20 deliveries.

"[It was] a small step forward in the last game with that first innings. I thought the way he structured up his first 20-odd balls, he had the positive intent, he was moving a lot better compared to the game before where it looked like he was stuck in the middle and didn't know whether to play a shot and it was either ultra-aggressive or ultra-defensive," said McDonald.

Domestic Performance Matters

McDonald emphasized the significance of domestic cricket, particularly the Sheffield Shield and Australia A games, as opportunities for players to stake their claim for the upcoming Ashes series on home soil.

"There's great opportunity in domestic cricket at the start of the season, and there always is leading into any Test series," McDonald stated. "We saw with the Border-Gavaskar Trophy last year, there was opportunity for players to put their hand up there. There's also Australia A [against Sri Lanka A] in the Top End [Darwin] at the moment, so we're watching that closely so it's really about the opportunity that presents."

He added, "First and foremost, we concentrate on what's right here, right now. Everyone will be speculating around who can come in, what possibilities are, but we're confident the players that we've got here can do the job."

The third Test between the West Indies and Australia is scheduled to commence on July 13.