By Billy Cotsis
Sam Konstas takes aim and waits for the ball; takes a step back and bang. It is high, its fast and hits another boundary. The 19-year-old batter who wears a NSW Blues hat, a Greek blue and white hat, and soon a Baggy Green hat, is on a journey to the top via his entertaining cricketing attributes.
The Greek Australian from Sydney has been making headlines after a starring role at the U-19s World Cup almost a year ago in South Africa, which was won by the Aussies.
After being selected for the Boxing Day Test, Konstas will become the second youngest Australian Test debutant this century. Captain and Aussie great Pat Cummins was 18 years old when he was selected.
In 2023, the young man made his debut for NSW, playing alongside Blake Nikitaras whose father Peter was also a state cricketer and a Greece national cricket team representative.
Konstas’ elegant batting style has netted centuries and 50s in Shield Cricket and also against an Indian XI.
Last weekend the dashing Greek Aussie smashed the fastest ever 50 for the Sydney Thunder in the BBL. His attacking mindset led to 56 runs off just 27 balls.
With opener Nathan McSweeney dropped and Usman Khawaja out of form, Konstas will become the 467th Test player for the Aussies.
Konstas follows in the footsteps of brilliant former Test allrounder Jason Gillespie, whose heritage is Aboriginal, Irish and Greek, and Marcus Stoinis who plays the short version of the game for Australia.
Whichever hat he wears, Konstas will be a player to watch over the next decade, and certainly over the Boxing Day Test.
*Billy Cotsis is the author of The Aegean Seven Take Back the Stolen Marbles.
