McDonald backs Konstas as Australia brace for more tricky tracks

Bridgetown: Australian coach Andrew McDonald has called for patience with teenage opener Sam Konstas after a rocky return to the Test team on a pitch that caught the tourists by surprise in what could be a sign of things to come in Grenada.

Members of the Australian team celebrated with piña coladas on a Barbados beach after their comprehensive 159-run win in the first Test against the West Indies.

Alex Carey’s tongue-in-cheek remark on Triple M that “60 on that deck is probably worth 200” underlined how difficult Australia’s batsmen found conditions in Bridgetown, including Konstas, who made scores of three and five.

The second Test begins Thursday at the National Cricket Stadium in Grenada — a venue that’s hosted just four Tests since 2002. The most recent, in 2022, didn’t see a team make more than 300.

“We were definitely put under pressure throughout that whole game,” McDonald told reporters the morning after Australia’s win. “Incredible partnership from Travis [Head] and Beau [Webster] to navigate through and give us something to bowl at.

“The wicket surprised us. There was enough seam and variable bounce, which made it difficult for batting.

Australia’s captain Pat Cummins celebrates with teammates after defeating West Indies. Credit: AP

“It’s a step into the unknown [in Grenada]. We’ll make an educated guess as to what the surface may do. I think it could lend itself to being a pace bowling dominated series if they keep the surfaces similar to that.”

McDonald all but confirmed Konstas would be retained for the second Test with Khawaja at the top of the order and gave his verdict on the youngster’s scratchy five off 38 balls in the second innings after being dropped twice on zero.

“It felt like he was stuck at times and was over aggressive and then underplayed,” McDonald said. “It’s really that balance and tempo. He’s got that there, and that’s a step-up to Test cricket [when] the pressure’s on. He’s got a really good partner down the other end. All we ask for is a bit of patience and time with it.

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“We’ve had some conversations around potentially, if you’re in that situation again, what does that look like?

“He knows his deficiencies. He’ll learn to play with what he’s got. These guys are on a journey. They’re starting out and some people get there faster than others.”

Smith rejoined teammates in Barbados on Saturday afternoon local time and is set to undergo a fitness test on his injured finger at Australia’s main training session on Tuesday, two days out from the next match.

McDonald said if Smith is cleared he will bat at No.4. He also threw his support behind Cameron Green at No.3, despite returns of three and 15.

“It feels like he’s almost starting his Test career again,” McDonald said of Green. “I think he’s got the temperament and the technique to bat anywhere in that order. We see him as [our] No.3.

“It’s not that long ago he got 174 on a difficult wicket in New Zealand.”

The team is comfortable keeping Head at No.5, particularly after knocks of 59 and 61 earned him man of the match honours.

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McDonald praised Josh Hazlewood’s match-winning five-wicket haul in the final session of day three as “incredible” and a product of his “relentless line and length”.

Meanwhile, Webster’s outstanding start to Test cricket - he has 305 runs at 43.57 with only two scores under 23 - is also a source of pride for the coach given his positive approach at the crease.

“He’s showing incredible maturity at the crease and I love his intent to score in all situations,” McDonald said.

“He allows us to manage the fast bowlers … and ‘Slug’ knows his game.”

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