Teenage prodigy Sam Konstas has introduced himself on the massive stage, putting a coming-of-age century for NSW in opposition to South Australia in Sydney.
Konstas went to his maiden century on day one of many Blues’ Sheffield Defend season opener, hitting 152 because the hosts went to stumps on 7-297 in opposition to South Australia at Cricket Central.
One of many main lights of Australia’s U19 World Cup success final yr, Konstas has lengthy been touted as one of many nation’s greatest younger abilities.
And the opener confirmed why on Tuesday.
The 19-year-old cover-drove fantastically all through his innings, and took to spinner Ben Manenti by hitting him down the bottom for 3 sixes.
He then introduced up his century off his 163rd ball within the ultimate over of the second session, nudging Brendan Doggett all the way down to backward-square for a single.
Konstas’s first Sheffield Defend ton got here with Australia’s chief selector George Bailey in attendance.
“It was a tremendous achievement. Clearly, it is good to get my first one,” Konstas mentioned.
“I simply should be hungry for runs. And no matter groups I make, it is a bonus.”
Konstas made his Defend debut for NSW final summer season, and amid glimpses of promise he introduced up a maiden half-century within the final spherical in opposition to Queensland.
However he appears a much more completed and assured batsman this summer season.
He used his toes properly to spin, and swept Nathan McSweeney for a giant six earlier than providing up his solely probability with a missed stumping by Alex Carey.
The teenager then introduced up 150 by flat-batting a Lloyd Pope full toss over the legside.
He was finally caught at slip off the leg spinner, when adjudged to have inside-edged a ball onto Carey’s legs earlier than it was caught by McSweeney.
In the meantime for Victoria, Marcus Harris has despatched a delicate reminder to selectors about his Take a look at capabilities, hitting a century in his first Sheffield Defend innings of the summer season in opposition to Tasmania.
Marcus Harris of Victoria celebrates scoring 100 runs in opposition to Tasmania. (AAP: Joel Carrett)
Harris introduced up his twenty eighth first-class century simply earlier than tea on Tuesday, and went to the break on 110 not out with Victoria 2-208 on day one after being 2-21 early.
The previous Take a look at opener’s runs got here as a part of a giant third-wicket stand with Peter Handscomb, who was unbeaten on 88 at tea.
The century was Harris’s seventh at Junction Oval, with nationwide selector Tony Dodemaide amongst these in attendance.
Australia’s selectors face a number of massive choices across the opening position within the subsequent six weeks forward of the primary Take a look at in opposition to India in Perth.
Most crucially they have to decide whether or not Steve Smith holds onto the position as an opener, or whether or not they would favor he transfer again down the order to quantity 4.
Cameron Inexperienced and Travis Head might each loom as choices to maneuver to the highest in Smith’s place if required, conserving the taking part in XI the identical as final summer season.
AAP
