Ponting optimistic about uncapped Australia opener

Australia great Ricky Ponting believes Sam Konstas has the talent and demeanour to make the most of any opportunity that arises during the remainder of the Test series against India.

With the Border-Gavaskar Series evenly poised at 1-1 heading into the final two Tests, Australia made changes to their squad with Konstas being called up in place of Nathan McSweeney.

Konstas, 19, will now make his international debut as both teams chase an unassailable lead as well as all-important ICC World Test Championship points.

Sam Konstas with a ton at the U19 Men's CWC 2024

“I've seen a lot, there's a lot of talent there no doubt about it,” Ponting told The ICC Review.

“The way he played in the PM's XI game (he scored 107 against the Indians), the way that he was able to approach his first BBL game the other night … I know it's different formats, but you can see that the talent is there and there's also a bit of an attitude to go with it.

“And not a bad attitude, (but) an attitude that he knows that he's good and he wants to show the world that he's good.”

Featuring for the Prime Minister’s XI in a two-day game against the touring Indians after the Perth Test, Konstas attracted the spotlight with a century against the visiting side.

In his 11 first-class matches Konstas has scored 718 runs at an average of 42.2, including two centuries and three half-centuries.

However, for all his early success, Ponting emphasised the uncapped batter would still feel the jitters on his debut - especially when facing up to the No.1-ranked ICC Test bowler Jasprit Bumrah.

Jasprit Bumrah magic from CWC23

“There's still a challenge there,” he said. “It's a Test match. It's your first Test match. You're playing against some of the best bowlers in the world.

“It probably doesn't get any bigger in world cricket right now. It's like any other country debuting an opening batsman against our bowling attack, when you've got Starc, Cummins and Hazelwood there.

“Bumrah has obviously been the standout and probably the leading fast bowler in Test cricket at the moment. So Konstas will have a great challenge there, no doubt about it.”

But Ponting is confident Konstas will be up for the fight.

“I don't think he's the sort of guy who’d be too worried about it,” Ponting said. “I think he'll be excited by it. He'll want to try and put some pressure back on with the way that he plays.

“Like he's not anyone that's going to sit there and be five off 50 balls. He's either going to be up and going or he's going to be out a bit earlier on than that.

“He'll try and find ways to impose himself on the contest, which is one of the things I think everyone likes about him.”

The fourth Test between Australia and India will begin on Thursday (26 December).