'Send him back home': Brad Haddin's message to selectors amid Sam Konstas' selection limbo
Former Test wicketkeeper Brad Haddin has urged Australia's selectors to send Sam Konstas home to play for NSW if the young tyro is going to be sidelined for the second match of the Warne-Muralitharan Trophy.
Haddin argued the 19-year-old opener would be better served batting for his state in a Sheffield Shield clash with Queensland in Brisbane, beginning on Saturday, than continuing to bat in the nets in Sri Lanka.
"We've got to remember he [Konstas] is 19, so if they're not using him for the second Test I would send him home to play state cricket," Haddin said ahead of the second Test, starting on Thursday.
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"He hasn't played a lot [of first-class cricket] and the more he plays the better.
"He would've had a good couple of weeks over there [in Sri Lanka] learning.
"If he's not going to be needed, send him back home to bat."
Sam Konstas in Sri Lanka. Getty
Konstas was dropped for the first Test of the Sri Lankan tour as selectors bumped Travis Head to the top of the order, where he blasted 57 from 40 alongside Usman Khawaja, and slotted Josh Inglis into the middle order, where the West Australian pumped 102 from 94 on his Test debut.
Australia won the first Test by an innings and 242 runs to retain the Warne-Muralitharan Trophy.
Steve Smith's side is now aiming to wrap up the series 2-0 in the second Test, beginning on Thursday.
Konstas was axed two Tests into his career but the prodigious right-hander remains in the selection mix for the World Test Championship final, to be played against South Africa at Lord's in June.
"I think he's been left out of the side because Australia had a plan a long time ago of how they wanted to play in Sri Lanka," Haddin added, throwing back to Head's successful time as an opener in India in 2023.
"We've seen how well Travis Head and Uzzie [Khawaja] played at the top of the order.
"I think he [Konstas] will come straight back in for the Test Championship [final]."
Haddin's call for Konstas to return home is contrary to remarks made by Smith, who touted the tour as a prime learning experience for the young gun.
"He's going to have a lot of practice over here if he doesn't play, which in itself is great for development," Smith said before the first Test.
"I only have to think back to 2013, I think, where I didn't play the first few Tests [in India] and just the amount of balls I was hitting in the nets and the skills I was able to develop from facing loads of net bowlers.
"So whether he plays or not, it'll be a wonderful experience for him."
