Australia is one in all few international locations on the planet of cricket that continuously introduces new sizzling prospects. That’s one of many primary explanation why the Australian U19 cricket workforce are 4-time World Champions. Amongst its most up-to-date teenage sensations that got here to gentle is Sam Konstas.
This 19-year-old unbelievable opening batter started his skilled home profession in November 2023 whereas enjoying for the New South West. A number of months earlier than that, Konstas was named within the Australian U19 workforce for an England tour. Now, he has signed his first Cricket Australia contract.
The Australian Cricket Workforce Isn’t Taking part in 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. Which means that this younger opening batter will most definitely be a part of the World Take a look at Championship ultimate and the Ashes towards England.
The featured contract exhibits that Cricket Australia desires the perfect gamers out there for the workforce. In current months, Konstas proved that he is usually a highly effective addition to the present nationwide workforce.
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 workforce determined to impose a ban on media. It is a short-term ban that hopefully gained’t final for months and months.
Such an method doesn’t put his upcoming Cricket Australia matches in peril. It will have been a problem if he obtained a ban for betting or playing on card video games. Three gamers went by such troubles in 2016 as they acquired suspensions of as much as 2 years.
Other than Sam Konstas, Cricket Australia additionally included two extra gamers to the 2025/26 contract listing. These are 31-year-old all-rounder Beau Webster and 28-year-old spinner Matt Kuhnemann. Each symbolize Tasmania in home cricket.
Konstas’ Burst Onto the Cricket Scene
The broader cricket viewers first heard of Sam Konstas in the course of the Boxing Day Take a look at match towards 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 Protect the place he performed 4 matches. His performances had been first rate as he scored 4 innings and 155 runs, averaging 25.83.
Nonetheless, 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 enjoying towards South Australia. On this match, he gathered 152 runs from 241 deliveries. Through the second innings of the identical occasion, Konstas made his second century. He’s the youngest cricketer to attain back-to-back tons of on the Sheffield Protect 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 Underneath 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 workforce selectors most popular Travis Head because the top-order batsman to go towards veteran Usman Khawaja. This appeared affordable as he’s way more skilled than Konstas.
Nonetheless, this shouldn’t demotivate the younger opening batter as he has loads of time to indicate off his expertise. He’s undoubtedly the following star in Australian cricket and stays within the focus for upcoming competitions.
Australia will take part within the World Take a look at Championship ultimate in June this 12 months. After that, the nationwide cricket workforce will go towards the West Indies in a multi-format collection. 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.
Other than Sam Konstas, there are 22 different cricketers underneath contract with Cricket Australia. These are Travis Head, Xavier Bartlett, Glenn Maxwell, Alex Carey, Matt Quick, 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.