Konstas falls cheaply in first Sheffield Shield outing of season

Sam Konstas’ bid to cement his place at the top of Australia’s order this summer suffered a setback when he was dismissed for just four in his first Sheffield Shield innings of the season on a day when Henry Hunt, Jake Lehmann and Jordan Silk made centuries around the country.

The 20-year-old, returning from a promising Australia A tour of India, lasted 25 balls against Western Australia on day one in Perth.

On a tricky pitch offering plenty of sideways movements for WA opening bowlers Joel Paris and Matthew Kelly, Konstas tried to leave as much as he could to begin his innings.

A crisp cover drive moved Konstas from one to four before WA wicketkeeper Joel Curtis failed to take an inside edge off the bowling of Kelly.

Next over, Paris sent down a beautiful inswinger that cannoned into Konstas’ pad and had him trudging back to the pavilion for four.

Konstas, the incumbent Australian opener, endured a lean tour of the West Indies earlier this year, managing just 50 runs from six innings.

He responded with a century against India A last month, but selectors have made clear Shield form will carry the most weight heading into the Ashes opener against England on November 21 in Perth.

It was far from ideal batting conditions for Konstas and his teammates on a rain-affected day as fellow NSW opener Blake Nikitaras (nine from 57 balls) and Test hopeful Kurtis Patterson (eight from 36 balls) perished early to leave the Blues precariously placed at 3-35 from 25.1 overs at stumps after rain stopped play.

Konstas could have five more innings in the Shield before Australian selectors pick their squad to face England.

Cameron Green didn’t get a chance to bowl but took a spectacular low catch to his right at second slip to remove Nikitaras, with WA and Australia A off-spinner Corey Rocchiccioli (1-4) taking the wicket.

Elsewhere, Nathan McSweeney, who debuted for Australia last summer against India, made a 21-ball duck for South Australia against Victoria. McSweeney compiled scores of 1, 74 and 85 not out on the recent Australia A tour of India. His South Australia teammate Jason Sangha also missed out on Saturday, scoring 19 as last year’s Sheffield Shield champions found themselves in trouble at 3-58.

Hunt (121 not out), a highly rated 28-year-old opener who hails from Cowra in NSW, and Lehmann (107 not out), coming in at No.5, made impressive centuries to propel South Australia to 3-270 at stumps.

The pair put on an unbeaten 212 stand for the fourth wicket as Scott Boland (0-43) went wicketless for the day.

In the other match of the round, Tasmanian opener Jake Weatherald was removed for 67 against Queensland after being dropped by Usman Khawaja on three.

Weatherald has been floated as a potential Test opener this summer after topping the runs list last season with 906 at 50.33 including three centuries.

The star of the day though was Tasmanian skipper Jordan Silk, who brought up his 13th first-class century. By stumps, Tasmania were 6-299, with Silk out caught and bowled to Mitch Swepson (1-56) for 104.

The most notable absentee was Tasmanian and Australian all-rounder Beau Webster, who did not take the field after rolling his ankle in the lead-up to the match. Webster will be assessed over the coming days but is expected to be fit for Tasmania’s second Shield match.