How dealing with failure is key to Konstas’ Ashes plans

1 week ago 3

Learning how to respond to failure is a key part of Sam Konstas’ bid to rediscover the form that saw him make one of the most hyped Test debuts of this century last December.

The 19-year-old was back at work in the SCG nets on Tuesday, honing his game in the hope of retaining his spot at the top of the order for the first Test against England in Perth in November.

Sam Konstas is readying himself for a big summer.

The swashbuckling manner in which Konstas announced his arrival on the Test scene, with a blistering 60 off 65 balls on debut in the Boxing Day Test against India, won the attention of cricket fans all over the world.

But those heady early days gave way to a series of low scores, and the NSW batter is now working to make amends for his meagre returns in the recent Test tour of the West Indies.

His first chance to showcase what he has been working on will come next week when Australia A plays the first of two four-day matches against India A in Lucknow.

Konstas says the chance to make runs against international competition is one he’s looking forward to.

Sam Konstas has endured some trying times of late.

“To be honest, I think in sports or in jobs, you’re going to fail, and how you respond to that and try to improve as a person while trying to get better is what matters. So for me, I think at 19 years old, I’m just trying to cherish the moments and experiences that I have,” he said.

“I’m very lucky to be going to India on Thursday. We play two four-day matches, so hopefully I can put some good performances in.”

Konstas and his team, working with Australia coach Andrew McDonald, have been hard at work over the winter.

“I’m definitely working on a few things from the Caribbean, and I’m very lucky to have good support. Shane Watson, my mentor, my batting coach Tahmid, and [Australia coach] Andrew McDonald have all been working really hard with me,” Konstas told the Herald.

McDonald said a return to basics was part of the plan for Konstas.

“Right now he is juggling his aggressive nature, his technique and the way he wants to go about playing,” McDonald told SEN Radio in August.

“We believe he has got more layers than just being that ultra-aggressive disrupter at the top of the order.”

Following the Australia A tour of India, one that will also include three 50-over matches, Konstas will have Sheffield Shield matches in October in which to prove his worth against of Ashes team selection.