Australian captain Pat Cummins has thrown his full support behind young batter Sam Konstas, encouraging him to focus on his strengths despite a challenging start to his Test career against the West Indies.
Early Promise Meets Recent Struggles
Sam Konstas made a memorable debut against India last year at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. He quickly impressed with his free-scoring style, showing an ability to disrupt the rhythm of opposition bowlers, even against formidable pacers like Jasprit Bumrah.
His natural aggression was seen as a perfect complement to the more cautious approach of opening partner Usman Khawaja. However, Konstas has faced a tough time in the recent series against the West Indies, struggling to convert starts into significant scores, with innings of 3, 5, 25, and 0.
Cummins’s Backing and Wisdom
Despite these low scores, Pat Cummins remains confident in Konstas’s abilities. He emphasized that players are selected for a reason and their best form is always good enough at the Test level.
“It’s just about concentrating on what makes you a really good player,” Cummins stated after Australia’s recent victory. He advised Konstas to focus on his usual scoring areas and the tempo that defines his best performances.
Embracing Failure for Growth
Cummins also offered a broader perspective on the nature of Test cricket, particularly for batters. He highlighted that even the world’s best batters don’t consistently hit their average, and failure is a more common outcome than success in individual innings.
“You’re going to fail more often than you’re going to succeed,” Cummins explained. He urged young players not to get overly consumed by every single innings, but rather to be quick learners and assess their performance over an entire series, not just isolated moments.
Mitchell Starc’s Enduring Pace
In other team news, Cummins also took a moment to commend Mitchell Starc, who is set to play his 100th Test match. Cummins expressed awe at Starc’s ability to maintain high speeds, clocking 145 km/h even at the end of matches, after such a long career.
Describing Starc as a “warrior” who is always ready to play, Cummins anticipates a significant milestone week for the fast bowler. Starc’s dedication and low-fuss approach have made him a consistent force in the Australian lineup.
- Pat Cummins supports Sam Konstas despite his recent low scores (3, 5, 25, 0) in the West Indies series.
- Cummins advises young players to focus on their core strengths and not be deterred by individual innings failures.
- He noted that even top batters fail more often than they succeed, emphasizing the importance of a long-term view.
- Cummins also praised Mitchell Starc’s enduring pace and warrior mentality ahead of his 100th Test.
