Sam Konstas Struggles in Sheffield Shield Ahead of Ashes Selection

Sam Konstas’s aspirations for an Ashes call-up took a hit during the Sheffield Shield match between New South Wales and Western Australia at the WACA in Perth. The young batsman managed only four runs before being dismissed by left-arm seamer Joel Paris, who trapped him LBW with a swinging delivery. This early dismissal left New South Wales struggling at 1-9 on the first day.

The match proved challenging for Konstas, who faced two tight LBW appeals and also saw a tough one-handed catch dropped by wicketkeeper Joel Curtis. With pressure building, Konstas will need to regain form in upcoming matches to secure his position in the longest format of the game. His recent performance included a standout First-Class century in India, showcasing his potential.

In his debut during the 2024 Boxing Day Test against India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Konstas impressed with a brisk 60 runs off 65 balls, skillfully navigating the bowling of renowned pacers like Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj. However, since that initial success, he has struggled, failing to exceed 30 runs in his next nine innings. As it stands, his Test statistics reflect just 163 runs from five matches at an average of 16.30.

On a contrasting note, Tasmanian opener Jake Weatherald kicked off his summer with a solid performance, scoring 67 runs off 99 balls against Queensland at Brisbane’s Allan Border Field. Despite his team’s early difficulties, with a score of 3-33 in the 12th over, Weatherald steadied the innings alongside captain Jordan Silk. Together, they forged an impressive 80-run partnership for the fourth wicket, with Weatherald reaching his half-century in just 81 balls before falling to experienced pacer Michael Neser.

Weatherald has been on a remarkable run, averaging an impressive 57.62 in first-class cricket since last summer, which positions him as a strong contender for a Test call-up. Meanwhile, Tasmanian all-rounder Beau Webster missed the red-ball match due to a minor ankle injury, further impacting the team’s lineup.

In another match at the Adelaide Oval, South Australian opener Nathan McSweeney faced a difficult outing, being dismissed for a duck off just 21 balls as Victorian pacer Mitchell Perry wreaked havoc on the hosts’ batting order. The ongoing Sheffield Shield matches are critical opportunities for players like Konstas and Weatherald to impress selectors ahead of the highly anticipated Ashes series.