Sam Konstas to debut in Boxing Day Test, Travis Head battles calf strain

[ad_1] Sam Konstas will develop into the youngest Take a look at cricketer to open the batting for Australia when he debuts in entrance of 90,000 individuals on Boxing Day.

After being known as into the squad rather than Nathan McSweeney, the 19-year-old was on Tuesday confirmed to be a part of the XI on the MCG by Australia coach Andrew McDonald.

At 19 years and 85 days on Thursday, the NSW whiz-kid shall be Australia's youngest Take a look at cricketer since his captain, Pat Cummins, debuted at 18 years and 193 days in South Africa in 2011.

Konstas will beat the 95-year report held by Archie Jackson, who opened the batting aged 19 years and 149 days in 1929.

Australia shall be celebrating if Konstas comes even near what Jackson achieved on debut, smashing 164 towards England at Adelaide Oval.

<img alt="Australian Prime Minister's XI batter Sam Konstas plays a shot with an Indian fielder in the foreground." class="Image_image__5tFYM ContentImage_image__DQ_cq" sizes="100vw" src="https://live-production.wcms.abc-cdn.net.au/e7c32c53dc627ec9d516331c9be97054?impolicy=wcms_crop_resize&cropH=1900&cropW=2850&xPos=150&yPos=0&width=862&height=575" loading="lazy" data-component="Image" data-lazy="true"/> Sam Konstas loved a vivid begin to his First Class season. ( Getty Photographs: Mark Nolan )

"We stated from the get-go, main into the summer time that we would not shrink back, and age was no barrier," McDonald stated.

"What he is [Konstas] proven is an array of photographs, the flexibility to place strain again on to opponents.

Loading... "He will get his alternative, so we're actually excited for him. Boxing Day, the most important stage.

"Any time you get a debutant, it is a second in time, is not it.

"Particularly, how younger and the way free he will play."

The final time Konstas performed on the MCG, he made three and 73 not out for Australia A final month towards India A.

Konstas blasted 107 from 97 balls towards India in Canberra three weeks in the past, retaining him within the Take a look at body though McSweeney initially began the sequence as Usman Khawaja's opening companion.

<h2 class="Typography_base__sj2RP Heading_heading__VGa5B future_heading__Gcudw Heading_default__Z3p_p Typography_sizeMobile20__NUDn4 Typography_sizeDesktop32__LR_G6 Typography_lineHeightMobile24__crkfh Typography_lineHeightDesktop40__BuoRf Typography_marginBottomMobileSmall__6wx7m Typography_marginBottomDesktopSmall__CboX4 Typography_bold__FqafP Typography_colourInherit__dfnUx Typography_normalise__u5o1s" data-component="Heading">McDonald 'actually assured' Head will play However Travis Head failed to coach totally as Australia sweats on the health of its most vital participant simply two days out from the the beginning of the fourth Take a look at.

McDonald stated he was "actually assured" Head would play however nonetheless wanted to beat a small quad pressure.

"There is no concern in the mean time," McDonald stated.

"Has he been formally ticked off? I am unsure. I did not see the form of again finish of his coaching session there, however I am fairly assured he'll play.

"It's going to simply be principally what danger is related to that.

"He had a small pressure to the quad.

"However no considerations from my finish, he is been in a position to do his working, so I believe it might be totally practical come sport time."

Andrew McDonald says he expects Travis Head to be match for Boxing Day. ( Getty Photographs: Bradley Kanaris )

After not coaching a day earlier, the star left-hander had a brief stint within the MCG nets on Tuesday when he acquired throw downs for about 20 minutes.

Head had a protracted dialog with McDonald and group physio Nick Jones earlier than going again to the rooms.

McSweeney's complicated axing A month after attaining his dream on the again of six years of first-class cricket, it took simply six Take a look at innings to see Nathan McSweeney dropped for the remainder of the India sequence at the very least.

Different batters Steve Smith, Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne all had prolonged durations within the nets going through the likes of Mitchell Starc at full tempo.

Earlier, Head had a brief stint of catching observe, however did not do any significant working.

The 30-year-old has been in uncommon type, smashing centuries in Adelaide and Brisbane to certify himself as India's most in-demand wicket.

Head has made 409 runs at a median of 81.80 throughout the primary three Exams of the Border-Gavaskar sequence, dominating India at the same time as the remainder of Australia's batters have confronted vital points towards Jasprit Bumrah.

If Head would not play, Australia's white-ball keeper Josh Inglis would seemingly are available as a batter-only for his Take a look at debut.

Tasmania all-rounder Beau Webster can be urgent his case for choice, however quantity six Mitch Marsh seems to have overcome his again points after bowling greater than he has because the first Take a look at in Perth.

Marsh delivered simply two overs within the rained-out Take a look at on the Gabba, however McDonald expects him to play a larger function with the ball in Melbourne.