2 hours ago
13
Australian spinner Nathan Lyon has delivered some home truths to dropped opener Sam Konstas after the dashing young batsman was dropped for the first Ashes Test in Perth.
At just 19, Konstas made his Test debut for Australia on Boxing Day 2024 against India, scoring a rapid 60 off 65 balls.
His innings featured a daring ramp shot for six off Jasprit Bumrah, the first time the Indian paceman had been hit for six in nearly four years.
The bold stroke, following two failed attempts, announced Konstas as a fearless young talent.
His debut also included a tense mid-pitch clash with Virat Kohli, adding drama to his first appearance.
However, the momentum faded during the following West Indies series, where he managed just 50 runs across six innings.
Teenage sensation Sam Konstas burst onto the scene against India last summer and took their attack head on
Australian spinner, pictured with his wife Emma, has delivered some simple advice for Konstas
Since his bold start to international cricket, Konstas has struggled with the bat, forcing selectors to drop him
His average of 8.33 and a string of soft dismissals saw pressure mount on his place.
With the Ashes looming, selectors turned back to experience, reinstating Marnus Labuschagne in his spot.
Konstas has since been urged to rediscover his form in domestic cricket and prove he belongs back at Test level.
'It's obvious that the amount of media attention on Sam is there,' Lyon said in Sydney.
'It's really important for Sam to come back to NSW cricket and just really find a way because at the end of the day, he's just turned 20.
'We all expect that he's going to be the end product now, but the reality is that he's learning about the game and he's learning about the way he wants to go out to bat, and he needs to go find that and he needs to believe in it.
'I've got full confidence that he'll be back bigger and better. He's the future of Australian cricket – we all know that – but we just need to give him some time to go out there and figure it out himself.'
Jake Wetherald has been called into Australia's Test squad for the Perth match following Sam Konstas' omission.
A weight of runs has seen Jake Weatherald earn a place in the squad for the first Ashes Test
Lyon has compared Weatherald to Aussie Test legend Mike Hussey who also earned his call up as a late bloomer
The 29-year-old South Australian earned the nod after a strong Sheffield Shield season, highlighted by several big centuries at Adelaide Oval.
Known for his aggressive stroke play and calm temperament, Wetherald is viewed as a steady option to open alongside Usman Khawaja.
His recall marks a remarkable turnaround after years on the fringes of national selection.
The Perth Test will give him a chance to cement a place in Australia's top order ahead of the Ashes.
'You look at the numbers that Jake's provided over the last couple of years in Shield cricket for Tassie, and it's been exceptional,' Lyon said.
'It's good old-fashioned banging down the door with the amount of runs he's been able to get, and the way he's got them in pretty challenging conditions at times over those years (has been great to see), so I'm very happy for Jake.
'If you look back at the history of Shield cricket, it shows the importance of it (consistently scoring runs).
'You look at Mike Hussey and the number of runs he banged down the door with for a number of years until he got his Test debut.
'I think 'Huss' debuted at around a similar age to hopefully what Jake does, so it shows that Shield cricket is pretty important and that it's the backbone of Australian cricket.'
