Sam Konstas knows the score. Another clutch of Sheffield Shield matches sits between him and an Ashes recall, and the opener admits the next few weeks are “massive”. Yet he insists his attention is fixed on what he can control – runs, rhythm and the advice of those he trusts most.
The 23-year-old will first head to India with Australia A for two four-day games, a trip viewed by selectors with one eye on Australia’s five-Test tour there in early 2027. Any runs on the subcontinent certainly won’t hurt, but it is the opening month of the Shield, starting in October, that will ultimately shape his immediate Test prospects.
“It’s massive, it’s going to be a big four games and I expect that,” Konstas said, the comment arriving on the same day he signed a new four-year BBL deal with Sydney Thunder that keeps him at the club until 2029. “But for me, [it’s about] just being in the present moment, don’t get too fixated about the outcome and just be very process-driven in those games. Not getting too fazed about what other people say, and obviously have that inner circle that I trust.”
Konstas’ place came under the microscope after a lean tour of the West Indies – 50 runs in six innings, played on spicy pitches that challenged both top orders. They were his first caps since a bright debut series against India, yet the returns left him jostling for position once more ahead of November’s Ashes opener.
Back home, he took a short breather before resuming training with New South Wales. The work has been deliberate rather than frantic, he explained, with an emphasis on replicating match tempo and making peace with the odd technical blemish.
“For me it’s just trying to best prepare, and then obviously trusting what I think is right in that current moment,” he added. “It was my first time playing in the West Indies, and first time facing those bowlers. They bowled well and hopefully I can build from that experience.”
“Adopting the right mindset, training hard, not leaving any regrets. For me, that’s the big thing, just the way I prepare, and especially with the people that I trust, having honest conversations with them when necessary and leaving it to that.”
New South Wales captain Jack Edwards, who will travel on the same Australia A tour, has been a regular net partner.
“He definitely doesn’t hold onto it [the tour] for too long,” Edwards told ESPNcricinfo. “It’s great to have him around. He’s working extremely hard at his game as he always does, hitting a mountain of balls…such a young man, he’s definitely going to have a long career for Australia.”
Konstas leans heavily on senior figures. Steven Smith remains a frequent sounding board, while Big Bash skipper David Warner offers more instinctive counsel. “I’m very lucky to be working with the best in the world,” he said.
Picked for Australia after just 11 first-class matches, Konstas has, by his own admission, completed much of his cricketing apprenticeship in the public eye. Coaches accept the ride will include the odd dip; they also argue that those West Indian struggles will not leave lasting scars.
“I’m still learning about my game and finding what works in different conditions,” he said. “Understanding the situations, when to soak up pressure [and] when to attack the game.”
That blend – tactical awareness plus the fearless streak that propelled him into the Test side last summer – is what Australia’s selectors hope to see when the Shield begins. Should the runs come, the opener’s seat for the Ashes should take care of itself.
For now, Konstas is trying to keep things simple. He has the bat, the nets and his tight-knit group. Everything else, at least for a few weeks, sits outside the bubble.
