Australia youngster Sam Kontas is going to return home midway through the Sri Lanka Test tour to play in the Sheffield Shield for New South Wales.
Konstas, who made a memorable debut against India and Jasprit Bumrah in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, kept his place in the squad for the Sri Lanka tour. However, Australia decided to drop the teenager due to his inexperience in spin-friendly Asian conditions. They opted for Travis Head as an opener instead alongside Usman Khawaja, while handing a debut to Josh Inglis, who repaid the faith with a stunning hundred.
The selectors have now decided to send Konstas home for New South Wales’ next Sheffield Shield fixture against Queensland starting from Saturday (February 8). Australia, having already qualified for the World Test Championship final and gone 1-0 up in the series, have little to lose.
"That’s the plan. Hopefully, I can be back for the first game," Konstas told Sydney Morning Herald. "It's been a huge honour being in the squad and learning from the likes of Travis Head, Steve Smith, Usman Khawaja, the way they go about it. And obviously having experience in the Asian continent in Dubai.
Having been a key figure in Sri Lanka's Test lineup for more than ten years, Dimuth Karunaratne has opted to step away following a slump in batting form.
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"It’s been about understanding what works in these conditions, and hopefully I can emulate that after I get back to Sydney. Understanding your strengths and trying to do it for as long as possible in these conditions."
The decision comes after there were growing calls to release Konstas to play state cricket since he is unlikely to be in the scheme of things for the second Test. Former Australia captain Ian Healy and wicketkeeper-batter Brad Haddin have been vocal about Konstas’ participation in domestic cricket.
Head: Konstas will likely open in the WTC final
While Travis Head is set to continue to bat up the order at Galle following his 57 off 40 as an opener, the southpaw has backed Konstas to open for Australia in the WTC final at Lord’s against South Africa.
"Most likely I'd go back in the middle order and Sam would open," Head said before the second Test. "But I'm glad I'm not a selector. Josh has had an amazing start, the guys are playing well, Greeny's going to be fit. So it's going to be hard to fit [them all] in. I think that's what we want. We want an Australian cricket team that's tough to get in.
"For someone to come in and take the game [on] the way he did in Melbourne, the confidence he's got, it's a good thing to have a young kid around that's a bit naive and just plays the game the right way. He's got a huge future for Australia. It'll just be how he, over the years, deals with adversity. At this stage, he looks like he deals with it really well."
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