Former NSW mentor Greg Shipperd has advised Sam Konstas that maintaining consistency in his batting technique is essential, though he strongly believes the young player is demonstrating progress toward finding stability at the crease.
On Thursday, Shipperd supported Konstas' comeback into Australia's Test squad for the June World Championship clash with South Africa, following his exclusion from the recent fixtures in Sri Lanka.
This weekend in Hobart, the opening batsman will face yet another challenge with the pink ball as they attempt to guide New South Wales towards securing a spot in the Sheffield Shield final.
Since his impressive performance with NSW back in October when he scored two centuries, Konstas's striking batting has been a topic of discussion for months now. This standout act of the summer continues to be a source of concern for many.
When he made his Test debut on Boxing Day, he caused a stir nationally by consistently using reverse scoops to disrupt Jasprit Bumrah’s flow as the Indian ace.
However, his method has come under intense scrutiny, especially after he was bowled while attempting to slog sweep Scott Boland during the third over of a Shield match last month.
That dismissal raised doubts about whether Konstas would be able to reclaim his position for the Test Championship final, as another potential struggle in the upper order loomed at Lord's.
In the second innings against Victoria, the opener started cautiously without attempting an aggressive shot over his initial 30 deliveries. Later, he scored a 107-ball 50 as New South Wales secured a draw in Perth during their match last week.
“I’m not certain he deliberately planned that aggressive stance towards Boland; I believe it simply evolved in that specific instance,” Shipperd stated.
After revisiting and reassessing his batting strategy through discussion, he has implemented several changes.
To me, that indicates he's actively listening and absorbing knowledge, which is crucial for him at this phase of his career. He’s still figuring out how to play the game.
I would be quite astonished if the Australian selectors aren’t seriously contemplating him for that opening spot in the WTC final.
Shipperd mentioned that he has maintained frequent communication with Australia's coach, Andrew McDonald, as well as selectors regarding Konstas's progress.
Initially during the earlier part of the summer, the young player aged 19 adopted a rather traditional technique at bat. However, starting from December, he began to exhibit a bolder and riskier attitude towards his batting style.
"As evident, there have been instances where this approach has proven effective for him," stated the NSW coach.
However, the overarching idea is to support him, as many of the most seasoned analysts nearby suggest, advocating for a more steady strategy.
Identifying the appropriate timing within the innings and taking into account what the team requires at that specific point.
We're pleased to see him improve with every match and think about all these factors as each inning progresses for him.
The game in Tasmania might be Konstas's last prior to the Test Championship final, should NSW miss out on qualifying for the Shield decider and if he doesn’t secure a contract with an English county team.
As the Shield enters its final round, bonus points will probably be crucial in deciding which teams—Queensland, New South Wales, Western Australia, or Victoria—will advance to face South Australia in the finals.
Should New South Wales defeat Tasmania and move past Queensland into second place, Steve Smith could have an opportunity to feature in the finale.
