‘It’s been insane’: Konstas won’t let Cricket Australia contract snub derail his plans

Sam Konstas is about to head for a swim at Cronulla Beach and is excited about a holiday in Byron Bay later this week.

You wouldn’t know that he’s just lost his Cricket Australia contract, only 15 months after his spectacular Test debut on Boxing Day at the MCG when he ramped Indian quick Jasprit Bumrah for six in one of the most memorable first outings by an Australian cricketer.

Konstas understands he is on a journey and is prepared to take the good with the bad. The 20-year-old is showing maturity beyond his years, and knows that speaking to the media – whether it is after making a hundred or getting dropped – is part of the job.

It hasn’t been Konstas’ best week, but he remains upbeat.

“I got the call on Tuesday from [Australia selector] Tony Dodemaide,” Konstas said. “He said I wasn’t getting a contract and just to keep training hard. They see me in their future plans with some Aussie A trips coming up. That was about it, to be honest.

“I understand where they’re coming from. Obviously, I would have liked to have a better season, but I felt like I made lots of progression in the way I wanted to go about my batting. Hopefully, next year I can capitalise on my starts a bit more.”

Konstas was overlooked as Jake Weatherald made his Test debut in the recent Ashes series. Having opened for Australia in the Caribbean in three Tests in June and July, Konstas’ domestic season was unique.

He finished the Sheffield Shield campaign as NSW’s leading run scorer with 660 runs from 20 innings at an average of 33, ranking fifth in the competition at the end of the regular season.

Konstas says his lone century – 116 against Queensland in December – and two fifties felt like a modest return given the number of starts he made as an opener. After the Big Bash break, those starts became Lotto-like scores of 44, 28, 27, 35, 37, 28, 38 and 31.

“I feel like I didn’t even have a good season, which is scary,” Konstas said. “For me, it’s just the start. I’m 20 years old, and hopefully I can just keep getting better.

“I’m just trying to be the best version of myself and [one day] be the best player in the world.”

Konstas has a Test batting average of 16.3 from 10 innings and a first-class average of 32.93 from 32 matches. He is eight years younger than any of the Sheffield Shield’s other top 10 run scorers this season.

“[The past two years] has been insane. At my age, I’ve had a lot of experiences with highs and probably more lows,” he said. “I wouldn’t change anything. I’m understanding what it takes to become a professional athlete. Leaving school means cricket is now the priority.

“I wanted to play in the Ashes. They smashed the Poms, which was good to watch on TV. I’m very lucky to have good connection with all the [Australia] players and coaching staff, and having honest conversations. They welcomed me with open arms.”

When Konstas missed Ashes selection in November, Australia’s chairman of selectors, George Bailey, said he felt for the youngster “because I feel like at the moment, if he farts, it’s a headline”.

The noise has since subsided, and the Konstas-mania has cooled. Perhaps it is a cautionary tale of what can happen when a player is fast-tracked into international cricket.

Konstas will now begin working with strength and conditioning guru Jock Campbell, who spent years with the Australian team, before a full pre-season with NSW.

He is also eager to link with incoming Blues coach Brad Haddin, who he first met during Australia’s tour of the West Indies last year.

For all that has unfolded during the past two seasons, Konstas says he has taken on board two key lessons.

“There’s going to be a lot of advice throughout my whole career from a lot of people – it’s understanding that you have to trust your inner circle,” Konstas said.

“Everyone means well, but sometimes that may not be the best answer.

“The second is understanding why you play the game of cricket: I absolutely love it and never want to lose that feeling. I play my best when I am enjoying it.

“Obviously, I want to be at the top, and that’s the goal, but I’m just lucky that I get to play a sport I love and get paid for it. I’m really grateful for that.”