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Former Australian Test spinner Kerry O’Keeffe has called for David Warner’s successor to be NSW teen sensation Sam Konstas.
Warner has indicated he intends to end his red ball career after the Sydney Test in January, at the end of the Pakistan series.
Speaking to SEN, O’Keeffe threw up Konstas as an option to replace Warner, despite the right-hander having just one game of Sheffield Shield experience.
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While Warner’s immediate replacement is expected to be either Cameron Bancroft, Matthew Renshaw or Marcus Harris, O’Keeffe suggested all three were only short-term options.
“All three deserve consideration … Bancroft in particular, he’s got six Sheffield Shield hundreds in the last year and a half,” he said.
“I think all three have a ceiling, but the best young opening bat I’ve seen in the last couple of years is Sam Konstas who’s just debuted for New South Wales batting three.”
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Konstas – who only turned 18 in October – first made waves in Sydney grade cricket when he became the first Sutherland Cricket Club player to ever score 1000 first grade runs across all three formats in his debut season.
Sutherland’s batting alumni includes Phil Jaques, Nic Maddinson, Shane Watson and Steve Smith.
Through the club, Konstas has been receiving mentorship from Watson.
In August, he made an unbeaten 105 in his first taste of international cricket, playing for Australia U19s in a one-day match against England.
On his Shield debut, Konstas made scores of 10 and 23 on a pitch former Test skipper Tim Paine described as “an absolute disgrace”, and the following week was awarded Man of the Match honours for a match-winning 63 not out for NSW Metro in the U19 Male National Championships final against Queensland.
He has also signed on to play for the Thunder in this BBL season.
O’Keeffe said it was “too early” for Konstas to be given a baggy green, but said where the Blues decided to play him is an indication of how highly he’s rated.
“This is a guy who appears destined, but he’s only 18 years of age,” he said.
“If New South Wales are prepared to bat him number three on debut, where you’d normally bat the teenager at six, they think they have the real deal in Sam Konstas.
“So, I’m inclined to think … he’s only played one First Class game, but down the track, I think he’ll probably get runs, go from number three for New South Wales to open and present a case (for Test cricket).”
Konstas will be hoping to keep his spot in the Blues squad when the Shield season continues in February.
The first Test between Australia and Pakistan gets underway in Perth on Thursday.
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