Prime Minister’s XI vs England sees Konstas included in a crop of young batters who will feature in the two-day pink-ball game.
Konstas named in Prime Minister’s XI to face England.
The Prime Minister’s XI, which includes some of Australia’s top young batting talent, will play an England squad in Canberra at the end of November over two days and nights. Sam Konstas has been selected for the match.
Alongside Nathan McSweeney, who participated in three Test matches against India the previous season, are Ollie Peake, Hugh Weibgen, and Campbell Kellaway. In addition to veteran Test fast Peter Siddle, the team will be captained by the seasoned Peter Handscomb.
When Konstas blasted 107 off 97 against India in what turned out to be a one-day match due to rain, it was the same match last season that helped catapult him into the Test team.
After struggling in the West Indies and scoring 161 runs at 20.12 in four Sheffield Shield rounds, Konstas lost his Test spot for the opening Ashes.
Kellaway, on the other hand, has been one of the season’s top hitters, scoring 317 runs at 39.62 while opening for Victoria. He most recently faced Mitchell Starc’s quick spell at the SCG.
He is one of the front-runners to succeed Usman Khawaja when his career ends, according to his state coach, Chris Rogers.
It’s proven once again he could be the successor to Khawaja. He’s going to do fantastic things in his career,” Rogers, said. “I spoke to Campbell about it after and he wouldn’t have faced that challenge throughout his career.
“But if he’s going to go on and play international cricket then he will have to face things like that, where tall, fast bowlers are kind of aiming at his front shoulder.
“So that’s something that he’s going to have to work on, the positions he gets into. But to come out and get 50 and line the ball up so well against Starc and Hazlewood, I thought that was a real tick.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said: “This team showcases the depth of talent in our domestic cricket system, and I’m particularly excited to see some of our emerging stars earn this opportunity.
“I am also looking forward to the Ashes commencing in Perth from 21 November, it’s the oldest rivalry in world cricket – Australia and England in an Ashes Series always means something extra.”