'Really feel for him': Michael Hussey's message to Aussie selectors as 'unsustainable' Sam Konstas flaws laid bare

Australian legend Michael Hussey admits the meteoric rise for Sam Konstas was "not sustainable" and urged selectors to leave the young gun out for the Ashes.

The 20-year-old burst onto the scene last summer, scoring centuries for NSW and then forcing his way into the Test side as a teenager.

Konstas scored a half-century on debut against India, pulling out audacious ramp shots against Jasprit Bumrah that turned him into an overnight sensation.

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However, in the 10 months that have followed, things have slowly started to falter for the Sutherland product, who is now in real danger of losing his spot in the Aussie side.

His season got off to a rough start with scores of 4 and 14 in the Sheffield Shield opener against Western Australia, before being dismissed for a duck against Victoria.

Konstas did reel off a half-century against the Vics in the second innings, but the form shown by Marnus Labuschagne and Jake Weatherald has placed him under pressure.

Speaking during the Fox Cricket broadcast on Sunday afternoon, Hussey said it was time for Konstas to take a step back and hone in on his long-term development.

"If I'm being honest I really feel for the young man," Hussey said.

"Given the opportunity against India, played that amazing innings at the MCG that had us all gobsmacked ... but we all knew that was not a sustainable way to be successful.

"He's obviously got enormous talent – but he's still so young. He's still trying to figure out what his best game looks like.

"I personally would love to see Sam go back to Shield cricket – stay there for a year, two years, score lots of runs for NSW, learn about his game.

"Then when he's picked he's ready to go, and he's got a lot of runs behind him and a better understanding of his own game.

"Just want to let this kid go and develop slowly and quietly and then when he's ready, bang - he's going to go and burst on the scene and have a huge career hopefully."

Former vice-captain Brad Haddin echoed those sentiments and pointed out the fact that Konstas still has plenty of time to make a mark at Test level.

"He's gone away and he's changed different techniques in his game," Haddin said.

"But you don't want to be doing that – Marnus was probably an example for that and we've seen what happened when he got away.

"You don't want to be doing that under the microscope of Test match cricket.

"He's still tinkering with what works in his technique and that says a lot. He's still got to go back and find his game. Find his game at state level, understand what works for him.

"Huss and I debuted for Australia at 30. I played 66 Tests – Huss probably could have played 150, but that's a different conversation.

"His best cricket might be when he's 25 and he's still got 10 years. I don't think we need to be rushing him into the spotlight until he understands his game."

Assuming that Konstas does miss out on selection for the first Test in Perth, which kicks off on November 21, the general consensus is that Labuschagne will make his return.

Mark Waugh believes the eccentric right-hander is a lock to come back into the top-order after dominating Shield and List A to start the domestic season.

"He's certainly got to come back in now," he said on Fox Cricket.

"Got his confidence back, he's a bit clearer in his mind. He's a world-class player. If he's playing anywhere near his best, he's definitely in the top six batters in Australia.

"I think he's a certainty to be in the line-up in that first Test."

Konstas will feature in Monday's one-day clash between NSW and Victoria, while Labuschagne remains in the ODI squad for the next game against India on Thursday.