da fazobetai： Sam Konstas’ state coach Greg Shipperd believes the teenager is starting to show signs of heeding lessons around match situations in his batting
da dobrowin： AAP13-Mar-2025Veteran New South Wales coach Greg Shipperd has told Sam Konstas he must adopt a more consistent approach to his batting, while adamant the teenager is showing signs of striking the right balance.Shipperd on Thursday backed Konstas to return to Australia’s Test team for June’s World Championship final against South Africa, after being squeezed out of recent matches in Sri Lanka.The opener’s batting will face another test against the pink ball this weekend in Hobart, as he tries to help pilot NSW into the Sheffield Shield final.Related
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The headline act of the summer since his twin tons for NSW in October, Konstas’ eye-catching batting has been a point of consternation for months. He was a national sensation when he disrupted Jasprit Bumrah’s rhythm by repeatedly reverse-scooping the Indian maestro on Test debut on Boxing Day.But his approach has since been heavily scrutinised, particularly when bowled trying to slog-sweep Scott Boland in the third over of a Shield match last month. That dismissal prompted questions over whether Konstas could regain his spot for the Test Championship final, with another top-order squeeze looming at Lord’s.The opener responded by not playing an attacking shot in his first 30 balls in the second innings against Victoria, before making a 107-ball 50 as NSW held on for a draw in Perth last week.”I’m not sure he planned that [aggressive approach to Boland], I think it just unfolded in that particular moment,” Shipperd said. “With discussions and reconsideration of what a batting plan looks like, he’s made some adjustments.”That means to me he’s listening and he’s learning, and that’s very important for him at this stage of his career. He’s still working the game out.”I’d be very surprised if the Australian selectors weren’t considering him strongly for that opening position [for the WTC final].Shipperd said he has been in regular contact with Australia coach Andrew McDonald and selectors around Konstas’ development. The 19-year-old batted with a far more conventional approach early in the summer, before becoming more audacious with his batting from December on.”Quite clearly we can see that there are times when that method has been successful for him,” the NSW coach said. “But as a general theme we’re encouraging him, as most of the experienced pundits around are calling for, for a more consistent approach.”Finding the right time in the innings and also considering what the team needs at that particular moment.”We’re encouraged that he’s learning each game and he’s considering all of these issues as each innings unfolds for him.”The Tasmania match could potentially be Konstas’ last before the Test Championship final, if NSW fail to qualify for the Shield decider and he does not land an English county deal.With one round to play in the Shield, bonus points are likely to determine who of Queensland, NSW, Western Australia or Victoria qualify for the final against South Australia.If NSW beat Tasmania and leapfrog Queensland into second, Steven Smith is a chance to play in the final.
