Should Sam Konstas play in the first Ashes Test? Six experts have their say

Sam Konstas remains the most polarising young player in Australian cricket and, a little more than five weeks out from the Ashes, debate continues to rage about whether the 20-year-old should play against England.

Former Test spinner Kerry O’Keeffe believes the risk is too great for the prodigy who burst onto the international scene at the MCG last summer against India, while Brett Lee says Konstas deserves to be backed for the entire five-Test series, even if he starts with four ducks.

Konstas’ recent form has been mixed: scores of 109, 27 not out, 49 and three on Australia A’s tour of India, followed by four and 14 in the Blues’ opening Sheffield Shield match against Western Australia.

The incumbent Australian opener will face a Victorian side featuring Scott Boland at the Junction Oval from Wednesday in another crucial audition.

A host of former greats and Fox Cricket experts were asked at a season launch on Monday for their views on whether Konstas should be in the Australian team for the first Test in Perth next month.

Adam Gilchrist: Konstas more in than out

“Maybe after the West Indies, a lot of people had written Konstas off … but I do believe he’s well and truly still in the running,” Gilchrist said.

“Sam probably needs some runs just to solidify that position. This selection panel and this group seem to try and show faith in guys they’ve gone with and instil that belief and back them in. That’s the way I suspect it might go at the moment.

“Marnus [Labuschagne] is definitely in contention to be in that Test team. In what position remains to be seen. Marnus could probably play in either role [opener or No.3]. Technically, the requirements are pretty similar.”

Kerry O’Keeffe: Konstas out

“I’m a big fan of Sam Konstas, but he’s learning Test cricket on the run,” O’Keeffe said. “These are two dangerous Tests. They’re ‘nickers’ Tests [where batsmen will edge to the slips], Perth and then Brisbane, a day-nighter.

“I would rather go with Marnus and Usman [Khawaja]. I think it’s dangerous if Konstas does play. The prospect of failure against Jofra Archer, Mark Wood, Josh Tongue and Gus Atkinson could be high. I wouldn’t burden him with that pressure. That’s just me.

“I think he’s a long-term player as an opener, but he’s not quite there and hasn’t had that background of first-class cricket that Matt Hayden and Phillip Hughes had. Even though I’m a big fan, I would prefer to see him play a bit more first-class cricket.”

David Warner: Konstas in

“He scored that hundred in the Australian A series; I thought he batted outstanding there,” Warner said. “I don’t think we’ve seen exactly what we know Sam Konstas can do.

“Last year, he probably got overwhelmed by the occasion. I’ve seen him play some fantastic innings, and I’d like to see him go back to just doing that.

“England don’t have a Jasprit Bumrah, so he doesn’t have to worry about that. They’ve got some fast bowlers, but he can tackle that.

“I’d like them to stick with Sam and give him a crack because at the end of the day, I don’t know if it’s a short-term fix if they try and find someone else. They were mentioning Mitch Marsh and Josh Inglis, but there’s no reason why Sam Konstas can’t do that role.”

Mark Waugh: Konstas on the way out

“The selectors will want to see runs from him in the next couple of Shield games,” Waugh said. “If he doesn’t get a lot of runs, I think they might look past him. The man I would replace him with is Marnus Labuschagne.”

Brett Lee: Konstas in

“I hope they go with Sam Konstas,” Lee said. “I think he’s the future of Australian cricket. If I’m coach or captain, I’m saying, ‘Sam, you’re playing all five Tests. I don’t care if you go duck, duck, duck, duck, you’re playing all five Tests’. What that does is you’re not looking over your shoulder if you nick off [edge the ball to the wicketkeeper or slips]. You’ve got 10 innings and this is your summer.

“He might nick off, but he might not. He might get down on one knee and lap you for six.

“You think back to [Michael] Slater, [Justin] Langer and Hayden. The ball was still swinging around and they found a way to navigate through that.”

Nathan Lyon: Too early to call

“I wouldn’t look too much into that [Konstas’ scores against Western Australia],” Lyon said. “It was a very naughty wicket [at the WACA].

“It was wet, there were some big divots and it was quite challenging, even though I got 40 runs on it.

“There are three more [Shield] games to play out before the Test side gets picked.”