Sam Konstas won't open in Galle Test, stand-in captain Steve Smith confirms batter with 55.75 average as opener to take up the role in Sri Lanka

"He did really nicely in India against the new ball. He put spinners under pressure immediately and we know how well he hits the seam as well if they come with that," Smith told the media on the eve of the first Test. "It's going to be good fun watching him."

 

 

As opener, Head averages 55.75 with 223 runs from four innings as opener including a half-century. On the other hand, it is not clear whether Konstas will get a chance to play his first away Test on January 29. Australia usually announce their playing XI a day before the Test but Smith played his cards close to the chest.

"Just playing what's in front of us, it's quite different to back home on the surfaces we've been playing on there where it's very pace dominant. We'd imagine this is going to be quite spin dominant," he said. 

 

 

Konstas who replaced Nathan McSweeney in the squad midway through the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 scored a blazing fifty in his debut innings. So far, he has scored 113 runs from four innings including a half-century.

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Smith on playing XI

In the spin-friendly conditions of Sri Lanka, there is a chance that either McSweeney or young Cooper Connolly get a nod for their exploits with the ball.

"We'll have another look at the wicket and from there we'll name the team at the toss. We've got all the options available to us. We'll see how we go," he added.

 

 

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Smith also talked about the possibility of all-rounder Beau Webster bowling with the new ball alongside Mitchell Starc or a spinner bowling from one end.