Australia is certainly one of few international locations on the earth of cricket that continuously introduces new sizzling prospects. That’s one of many predominant the explanation why the Australian U19 cricket staff are 4-time World Champions. Amongst its most up-to-date teenage sensations that got here to mild is Sam Konstas.
This 19-year-old unimaginable opening batter started his skilled home profession in November 2023 whereas taking part in for the New South West. A couple of months earlier than that, Konstas was named within the Australian U19 staff for an England tour. Now, he has signed his first Cricket Australia contract.
The Australian Cricket Staff Isn’t Enjoying Video games: Konstas’ First Contract Particulars
Following his excellent Boxing Day Take a look at debut, Cricket Australia rewarded Sam Konstas along with his first central contract. Because of this this younger opening batter will most actually be a part of the World Take a look at Championship last and the Ashes in opposition to England.
The featured contract reveals that Cricket Australia needs the very best gamers out there for the staff. In current months, Konstas proved that he generally is a highly effective addition to the present nationwide staff.
As a brand new participant, Konstas’ 2025/26 contract will get him a base of round $350,000 earlier than match funds. It is a vital pay rise of round $225,000 in comparison with his NSW cricket deal.
Following the contract and sure media criticism, Konstas’ administration staff determined to impose a ban on media. It is a non permanent ban that hopefully received’t final for months and months.
Such an method doesn’t put his upcoming Cricket Australia matches in peril. It will have been a difficulty if he acquired a ban for betting or playing on card video games. Three gamers went by way of such troubles in 2016 as they acquired suspensions of as much as 2 years.
Aside from Sam Konstas, Cricket Australia additionally included two further gamers to the 2025/26 contract record. These are 31-year-old all-rounder Beau Webster and 28-year-old spinner Matt Kuhnemann. Each characterize Tasmania in home cricket.
Konstas’ Burst Onto the Cricket Scene
The broader cricket viewers first heard of Sam Konstas throughout the Boxing Day Take a look at match in opposition to India. He destroyed Indian cricket star Jasprit Bumrah as he scored 60 off 65 balls alongside six fours and two sixes. Such a memorable debut is what each younger participant goals of.
Die-hard Aussie cricket followers know Konstas from a lot earlier. They first noticed him on the 2023/24 Sheffield Defend the place he performed 4 matches. His performances have been first rate as he scored 4 innings and 155 runs, averaging 25.83.
Nevertheless, his efficiency improved vastly within the following season of the identical competitors. Konstas scored 6 innings, 471 runs, and two centuries in 5 matches. This comes with a median of 58.87.
His first century in first-class cricket got here on October eighth 2024 whereas taking part in in opposition to South Australia. On this match, he amassed 152 runs from 241 deliveries. In the course of the second innings of the identical occasion, Konstas made his second century. He’s the youngest cricketer to attain back-to-back lots of on the Sheffield Defend since Ricky Ponting in 1993.
Sam Konstas made his skilled T20 debut for Sydney Thunder and his Massive Bash League debut in December 2024. He managed to get the quickest 50 for Sydney Thunder within the Massive Bash League historical past. This participant managed that in 20 deliveries. Konstas ended the match with 56 runs, two sixes, and eight fours.
Gamers Below Contract by Cricket Australia
Earlier than signing his first Cricket Australia contract, Sam Konstas remained out of each Take a look at matches in Sri Lanka. The nationwide staff selectors most well-liked Travis Head because the top-order batsman to go in opposition to veteran Usman Khawaja. This appeared affordable as he’s way more skilled than Konstas.
Nevertheless, this shouldn’t demotivate the younger opening batter as he has loads of time to indicate off his expertise. He’s positively the subsequent star in Australian cricket and stays within the focus for upcoming competitions.
Australia will take part within the World Take a look at Championship last in June this 12 months. After that, the nationwide cricket staff will go in opposition to the West Indies in a multi-format sequence. Konstas and his squad can even play the primary of 5 Ashes Take a look at occasions in Perth in November 2025.
George Bailey, the Chairman of selectors, sounded evasive when a reporter requested him about Konstas returning for the WTC deciding match. This query adopted after Head’s particular return to center order for the clashes at Lord’s.
He stated that they see Sam as a younger and promising participant who will get even higher at a first-class stage and worldwide setting.
Aside from Sam Konstas, there are 22 different cricketers beneath contract with Cricket Australia. These are Travis Head, Xavier Bartlett, Glenn Maxwell, Alex Carey, Matt Brief, Matthew Kuhnemann, Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon, Adam Zampa, Jhye Richardson, Nathan Ellis, Mitchell Marsh, Usman Khawaja, Cameron Inexperienced, Beau Webster, Scott Boland, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Lance Morris, Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis, and Steve Smith.
