He’s back! Sam Konstas makes century in a session for Australia A

Incumbent Australian Test opener Sam Konstas has rocketed back into form with a brilliant century in the first session for Australia A against India A on the opening day of a tour match in Lucknow.

On the day Tasmania pulled off a thrilling win over NSW in Sydney to launch the domestic one-day season, Konstas’ summer began about 10,000 kilometres away against an India A attack led by fast bowler Prasidh Krishna — the man who dismissed him in his last Test innings on Australian soil at the SCG in January.

This time, the teenager had the answers. On a rain-interrupted opening day of play, Konstas put his name up in lights with an excellent hundred in a stand that steadied Australia after they won the toss and batted. Konstas was eventually bowled by Harsh Dubey, playing a slog sweep for 109 from 144 balls.

By the 26th over, with Australia cruising at 0-126, Konstas had reached 51 — already more than he managed across six Test innings in the West Indies earlier this year, when he scraped just 50 runs at 8.33 on bowler-friendly pitches.

Konstas brought up triple figures off 122 balls in the 35th over with a big six over long-on before taking his helmet off in celebration.

The 19-year-old, who made an unforgettable Test debut in Melbourne last summer, is still under pressure to make runs in the Sheffield Shield, but this knock will do no harm to his hopes of retaining a spot for the opening Ashes Test against England in Perth on November 21.

On Tuesday evening (AEST), Konstas and Campbell Kellaway (88 from 97 balls) put on an unbeaten 198-run opening partnership in an extended first session of 37 overs for an Australian A side captained by Test discard Nathan McSweeney. Their partnership ended on 198, straight after the break, when Kellaway was caught off the bowling of Gurnoor Brar.

The match is not being televised or streamed, despite the setting in cricket-mad India. Local reporters noted Konstas even tried a reverse scoop in the first over of the match.

Konstas reportedly got off the mark with a crisp boundary down the ground off Krishna, while Kellaway, a 22-year-old from Victoria, adapted smartly to the conditions in an equally impressive knock on a tour that will serve as preparation for Australia’s next generation ahead of an important Test series there in 2027.

Konstas hit three sixes - all in front of square on the leg side - and 10 fours.

It continues a promising start to the season for Konstas, who struck a 146-ball century in a NSW intra-squad match earlier this month.

Konstas, who turns 20 next month, will feature in Australia A’s second four-day game from September 23 to 26 before returning home for the Blues’ Shield opener against Western Australia in Perth on October 4.

McSweeney was adjudged lbw for one off 13 balls, while Oliver Peake was out for two as Australia finished day one on 5-337 from 73 overs. Cooper Connolly (70 from 84 balls) and Liam Scott (47 not out from 79 balls) also made valuable contributions on a productive day for the visitors.

Meanwhile, Konstas’ Blues teammates suffered a humiliating loss to Tasmania in a 50-over-a-side match despite a fighting hundred from Test candidate Kurtis Patterson in front of national selector George Bailey in Sydney.

NSW were in the box seat for victory after Patterson’s sparkling 110 from 125 balls helped the Blues to 224 before Tasmania slumped to 4-42, with Beau Webster bowled by Ryan Hadley for a golden duck.

At 8-124 in the 26th over, Tasmania looked out of the contest, before No.8 Brad Hope (49 from 91 balls) and No.10 Matt Kuhnemann (56 from 71) put on an unbeaten century stand - the highest for the ninth wicket in the competition’s history - to steer the visitors to a dramatic win with four balls remaining.

“Proud I was able to get some runs and start the season well but it’s a bit of a sour change room at the moment. We just couldn’t quite get over the line,” Patterson said.

Asked about his century, and Test prospects this summer, Patterson said he felt ready.

“I feel like I hit bottom there for a bit … in a weird way it feels like I’m on bonus time,” Patterson said. “I’m loving the challenges the game is bringing. Long may it continue as the season goes on.”

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