19-year-old Sam Konstas all set to make Test debut for Australia at MCG

He will become the 468th Australian men's Test cricketer to don the Baggy Green during the fourth Border-Gavaskar game on December 26

Melbourne: Teen batter Sam Konstas is set to make a dream debut at the MCG during the Boxing Day Test against India even as an injury cloud looms over prolific run-getter Travis Head, who suffered a quadriceps muscle strain during the third game at the Gabba.

Konstas, 19, will become the 468th Australian men’s Test cricketer to don the Baggy Green during the fourth Border-Gavaskar game on December 26 after selector Tony Dodemaide informed him about his inclusion during training at the MCG here on Tuesday morning.

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Konstas will become the youngest Test debutant for Australia since 18-year-old Pat Cummins broke into the squad in 2011. “We wanted clarity for our batting unit before the team meeting,” Australia coach Andrew McDonald said ahead of the fourth Test with the series locked at 1-1.

Dodemaide informing Konstas about his inclusion was a departure from protocol as traditionally, it’s the Australian skipper who confirms the playing XI on match eve or on the morning of the match. “It’s (breaking the news) something we don’t usually do because haven’t had too many moving parts, but we thought we’d get that out of the way so everyone knows that he’s in the team,” said McDonald.

“He (Konstas) has been very similar to what I’ve seen on the outside within (the team) — composed, relaxed, knows his game. And what he’s shown is an array of shots, the ability to put pressure back on to opponents and he gets his opportunity,” he added.

Konstas replaces Nathan McSweeney in the side after the opener was dropped because of a string of poor scores in the three Tests so far. However, McDonald said, Head, one of the in-form batters having scored two centuries so far in the series, had a “a small strain to the quad” picked up during the last day of the third Test at the Gabba.