Australia's Sam Konstas, who is in line for a Test debut after being selected in the squad for the last two India Tests, could break a 95-year-old Australia record.
Konstas, who turned 19 in October, was included at the expense of Nathan McSweeney, as Australia made changes to their squad ahead of the Melbourne Boxing Day Test, with the Gabba game ending in a draw.
The highly sought-after opener has played 11 first-class matches so far, scoring 718 runs at 42.23, including two centuries and three fifties. If he gets handed a Test debut, he would become the fourth-youngest Australian to play men's Test cricket.
Youngest men's Test cricketers for Australia
Player | Opposition | Venue | Date | Age |
| Ian Craig | v South Africa | Melbourne | 6 Feb 1953 | 17y 239d |
| Pat Cummins | v South Africa | Johannesburg | 17 Nov 2011 | 18y 193d |
| Tom Garrett | v England | Melbourne | 15 Mar 1877 | 18y 232d |
| Tom Garrett | v England | Melbourne | 31 Mar 1877 | 18y 248d |
| Clem Hill | v England | Lord's | 22 Jun 1896 | 19y 96d |
At 19 years and 85 days (at the start of the Test), Konstas would beat Clem Hill on the above list.
If Konstas gets to play in Melbourne, he will become the youngest opener from Australia ever, breaking Archie Jackson's record from 1929. When he played the Adelaide Test that year, Jackson was 19 years and 149 days. The second-best on the list is the late Phil Hughes, who opened at 20 on the 2009 South Africa tour.
Youngest men's Test openers for Australia
| Player | Opposition | Venue | Date | Age |
| Archie Jackson | v England | Adelaide | 1 Feb 1929 | 19y 149d |
| Archie Jackson | v England | Melbourne | 8 Mar 1929 | 19y 184d |
| Phil Hughes | v South Africa | Johannesburg | 26 Feb 2009 | 20y 88d |
| Phil Hughes | v South Africa | Durban | 6 Mar 2009 | 20y 96d |
| Phil Hughes | v South Africa | Cape Town | 19 Mar 2009 | 20y 109d |
It remains to be seen whether Konstas gets his dream realised on the 26th, but all signs indicate he is set to earn his Test cap at the MCG.
AUS vs IND: Australia squad for last two Tests
Pat Cummins (c), Travis Head (vc), Steve Smith (vc), Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Jhye Richardson, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster.
Follow Wisden for all cricket updates, including live scores, match stats, quizzes and more. Stay up to date with the latest cricket news, player updates, team standings, match highlights, video analysis and live match odds.
