The Ashes hopes of Sam Konstas look increasingly unlikely after he lasted just four balls against Scott Boland amid fears from Test great Matthew Hayden that there’s no-one in the Australian top order to do the “heavy lifting”.
In his sternest test of the domestic season so far, facing the man most likely to be Pat Cummins’ replacement, Konstas was trapped LBW by Boland in the first over of NSW’s innings at Junction Oval on Wednesday.
The incumbent Test opener didn’t actually lay bat on ball in his innings, letting his first three balls sail through to the wicketkeeper.
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Konstas made a promising century for Australia A but has failed to have an impactful start to the Sheffield Shield or Dean Jones Cup.
His failures have coincided with Marnus Labuschagne’s rich vein of form, which has included three centuries in four innings for Queensland.
Konstas was batting in the final session after NSW (3-39 at stumps) dismissed Victoria for 240.
The Vics slumped to 5-66 but were parachuted out of trouble by Pete Handscomb (85) and Mitch Perry (66).
Sam Konstas lasted just four balls against Scott Boland. (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Liam Hatcher was the pick of the bowlers for the Blues, snaring 5-88, after Sean Abbott became the first Shield injury replacement player.
Abbott was in sound rhythm to start the day but was substituted out of the game when he split the webbing in his bowling hand after lunch.
Labuschagne had few challengers on day one of the second Shield round, as Jake Weatherald, Cameron Bancroft and Nathan McSweeney too missed their chances.
McSweeney scored a gritty 41 against an on-song Michael Neser but took 20 deliveries to get off the mark.
South Australia was lifted by half-centuries to opener Conor McInerney (60) and Jason Sangha (51).
Weatherald was unable to take Tasmania to a total beyond 171, caught at second slip for just 18 on a green wicket.
“Genuine question .. Are Sheffield shield pitches average for batting on or is the Kookaboora ball doing so much more these days or has the standard of Aussie batting dropped hugely??” England great Michael Vaughan tweeted.
Western Australia overcame early wickets – which included Bancroft (3) – to finish the day 4-107.
AUSSIE GREAT’S ASHES FEAR
Australian Test great Matthew Hayden fears there’s no one to do the “heavy lifting” at the top of the batting order ahead of the Ashes as a couple of opening contenders failed to grasp their chances in the second round of the Sheffield Shield.
After former England pace spearhead Stuart Broad suggested the lack of clarity around Australia’s batting line-up ahead of the Ashes made them look “the weakest” line-up in 15 years, both Marcus Harris and Jake Weatherald were found wanting on greenish pitches.
Harris, a 14-Test opener batting at three for Victoria, made just four after his team were sent into bat in Melbourne, his wicket coming amid an early collapse as the home team fell to 5-71 at lunch.
The left-hander was only considered an outsider to partner Usman Khawaja and scores of 61 and 13 in the opening Shield match wouldn’t have moved the selectors.
Weatherald, last year’s leading Shield run-scorer, opened his season with a pair of half-centuries but only managed 14 against Western Australia on Wednesday after also batting on a greenish pitch.
Jake Weatherald was out cheaply. Picture: Steve Bell/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Outside of Queensland, early-season batting conditions have been difficult, with Test spinner Nathan Lyon labelling the wicket served up in Perth “naughty” after incumbent opener Sam Konstas failed twice on it.
Only Marnus Labuschagne, who seems more likely than not to return to the Test team for the opening Ashes clash in Perth, has produced runs, scoring three hundreds in his past four innings for Queensland.
He’ll have to wait for his next bat after winning the toss and choosing to bowl against South Australia in Adelaide.
The poor output from prospective Test batters on Wednesday came as Hayden declared his fears for the Australians in the Ashes and said Labuschagne “should not” open with Khawaja.
“Our openers have a big part to play and making sure they are doing the heavy lifting – at the moment there is no heavy lifting in the top order,’’ Hayden told SEN.
“I don’t believe any opener is safe. I definitely do not believe Marnus Labuschagne should open. If you are averaging 30 (over the past few years) at No.3 you cannot expect to go any higher opening. To me Marnus is a No.3 bat, plain and simple. I definitely don’t think Cameron Green is a No.3.
Jack Edwards celebrates Marcus Harris’ dismissal. Picture: Graham Denholm/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images
“If you were in the Australian cricket team right now, you would be thinking ‘we can win’, and we probably will win because after all this is our turf, but blink in this dogfight … I think we have them covered in bowling but their batting is a bit more solid.
“I cannot see this being a cakewalk.’’
Test all-rounder Beau Webster also remains sidelined for Tasmania, but it’s believed that’s a Cricket Australia decision after he hurt his ankle last week.