Neil D’Costa, a renowned Australian batting coach, has cautioned against rushing 19-year-old sensation Sam Konstas into Test cricket for the upcoming series against India. D’Costa believes Konstas is not yet ready for the rigors of the five-day format, citing the cautionary example of Prithvi Shaw’s decline in international cricket.
D’Costa, who has coached the likes of Michael Clarke and Mitchell Starc, emphasizes the importance of allowing Konstas to develop his game in the Sheffield Shield. He believes that Konstas needs to gain experience and understanding of the game’s nuances before being thrust into the international arena.
“He could be a good player for 100 Tests. If they put him in now, he might only play 10 Tests,” D’Costa said. “Let him play two years of Sheffield Shield. Let him understand the grounds, the flows of the game, understand himself and understand the game.”
D’Costa’s concerns stem from Konstas’ recent performances for Australia A against India A, where he scored 2 and 43 in the first match and a duck and 16 in the second. While Konstas has shown great potential, D’Costa believes he needs more time to mature and develop his game.
Other contenders for the opening spot alongside Usman Khawaja include Marcus Harris and Cameron Bancroft. However, D’Costa believes that Konstas should not be rushed into the team at the expense of more experienced players.
“It’s just ridiculous (talk of rushing him in). How’s Prithvi Shaw going? I could see his weaknesses before he went in,” D’Costa said.
D’Costa’s advice is based on his extensive experience in coaching young players. He believes that Konstas has the potential to become a great player, but that he needs to be given the time and space to develop his game properly.
