NEW DELHI: Sam Konstas, the young opener who once lit up the Melbourne Cricket Ground with his audacious strokeplay against India’s pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, has once again grabbed the spotlight — this time in Lucknow. Playing for Australia A, Konstas scored a commanding century on the opening day of the unofficial Test against India A at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Stadium, giving his side early control and strengthening his case for Ashes selection later this year.Having opted to bat first, Australia A capitalised on the decision as Konstas launched a fluent assault on the Indian bowlers. He brought up his hundred off 122 balls and eventually made 109 from just 114 deliveries, striking 10 boundaries and three sixes before falling to Harsh Dubey. At the other end, Campbell Kellaway played a strong supporting role, scoring 88 off 97 balls before Gurnoor Brar dismissed him. The pair stitched together a rock-solid opening partnership worth 198 runs, putting India A on the back foot from the outset.For Konstas, this innings carried far more weight than just runs. Earlier this year, he endured a nightmare tour of the West Indies, managing only 50 runs across six innings. That lean patch cast serious doubts over his red-ball future. With Usman Khawaja expected to retain one of the opening berths for the Ashes starting in November, Konstas’ timely knock in Lucknow could prove decisive as selectors prepare to finalise the squad for the series opener against England in Perth on November 21.Cricket fans will remember Konstas for his fearless debut when he took on Bumrah at the MCG. In that unforgettable knock, he attempted reverse scoops and unorthodox strokes with remarkable confidence against world’s top bowler. Amid deafening cheers, the teenager ramped Bumrah for a boundary, a six, and then another four — collecting 14 runs off the over. That display, which saw him become only the second batter after Jos Buttler to hit two sixes off Bumrah in a single Test innings, brought 18 runs from the over and marked the first time since 2021 that Bumrah had been hit for a six via the ramp shot in Tests.At just 19 years and 85 days on debut, Konstas became the youngest Australian opener in men’s Tests, the fourth youngest Australian male cricketer overall, and the second youngest to score a fifty in men’s Tests. With his latest masterclass in Lucknow, the boy wonder has once again made the cricketing world sit up and take notice.
