MELBOURNE (Reuters) – New South Wales’ teenage batting talent Sam Konstas has soared into Australian selectors’ calculations for the test series against India with his inclusion in the ‘A’ team’s squad for matches against India A.
The 19-year-old opener struck twin centuries against South Australia last week, becoming the youngest player to do so in a Sheffield Shield match since Ricky Ponting.
With a spot available in the test squad due to Cameron Green’s back injury, Konstas was named in a 17-man squad released on Monday for the four-day matches against India A in Mackay (Oct. 31-Nov. 4) and Melbourne (Nov. 7-10).
Selectors will likely opt for another batter to cover for all-rounder Green in the India series and possibly an opener if Steve Smith is restored to the number four spot.
Smith opened in place of the retired David Warner for Australia’s last four tests against West Indies and New Zealand, averaging 28.50.
Although having played only five first-class matches, Konstas joins former test openers Cameron Bancroft and Marcus Harris in the A squad.
Selectors also named Australia’s ODI squad for a three-match series against Pakistan next month.
Pat Cummins, who skipped the recent England series, returns to captain the 14-man squad, while all-rounder Mitchell Marsh and batsman Travis Head have been omitted to take paternity leave.
Cooper Connolly, who made his ODI and T20 debut during the white-ball tour of the UK, retains his place in the ODI squad along with Aaron Hardie, the rising all-rounder who enjoyed a solid series against England.
The ODI series starts on Nov. 4 in Melbourne, with matches to follow in Adelaide (Nov. 8) and Perth (Nov. 10).
Australia A squad:
Nathan McSweeney (capt), Cameron Bancroft, Scott Boland, Jordan Buckingham, Cooper Connolly, Ollie Davies, Marcus Harris, Sam Konstas, Nathan McAndrew, Michael Neser, Todd Murphy, Fergus O’Neill, Jimmy Peirson, Josh Philippe, Corey Rocchiccioli, Mark Steketee, Beau Webster
Australia ODI squad:
Pat Cummins (capt), Sean Abbott, Cooper Connolly, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Short, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa
(Reporting by Ian Ransom in Melbourne; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
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