Sam Konstas admits the early rounds of the Sheffield Shield will be crucial in determining whether he retains his Test place for the Ashes, but the 19-year-old insists he is focusing on preparation and trusting his inner circle rather than outside noise.
Konstas endured a tough tour of the West Indies, scoring just 50 runs across six innings in difficult batting conditions. Having broken into the Test side against India last season, he now finds himself battling for selection ahead of Australia’s series against England in November.
After taking a short break, Konstas has resumed training with New South Wales and will return to competitive cricket on the Australia A tour of India next month. While that trip has long-term significance with Australia set for a five-Test series in India in 2027, selectors are expected to place greater weight on his Shield performances in October.
“It’s massive, it’s going to be a big four games and I expect that,” Konstas said as he also signed a new four-year BBL contract with Sydney Thunder, keeping him at the club until 2029. “For me, it’s about staying present, being process-driven, and not getting too caught up in what others say. Preparation and trusting the people around me are key.”
NSW captain Jack Edwards, who has been training alongside Konstas and will also feature on the Australia A tour, praised his resilience: “He always does the work, hitting a mountain of balls. He’s such a young man and will have a long career for Australia.”
Konstas continues to lean on senior figures including Steven Smith and Thunder skipper David Warner. “I’m lucky to be working with the best in the world,” he said. “I love Warner’s mindset—he’s aggressive, takes the game on, and always dictates terms.”
Picked after just 11 first-class matches, Konstas has been learning his game at the highest level. Coaches believe his struggles in the Caribbean won’t damage his long-term prospects. The teenager himself is determined to grow from setbacks.
“As an athlete, you’ll go through failures and successes,” Konstas said. “The key is to build from those failures and become a better person and cricketer.”
