Unlikely star tons up but Aussie Test hopefuls fail again
A slew of Aussie Test hopefuls have yet again failed to sell themselves as genuine selection options for next year’s away series against India.
On the first day of a second four-day match between India and Australia’s A teams in Thuthipet, southern India, skipper Peter Handscomb’s decision to bat first immediately backfired when his side was reduced to 3-16 after 12 overs.
Sam Konstas, pictured in a Sheffield Shield game in March, has failed to make the most of another Test audition in India. Getty Images
Openers Sam Konstas and Josh Philippe both fell for single-digit scores, before former Test batter Handscomb also fell for a 15-ball duck.
Nathan McSweeney and Jason Sangha put on 81 for the fourth wicket before Sangha was caught behind four short of a half-century. When McSweeney followed for 34 two overs later, the Aussies were once again teetering at 5-104.
But the innings was rescued by a century from keeper-batter Sam Harper, who brought up his ton with a boundary in the second last over of the day.
Harper, playing in his first first-class match outside the Sheffield Shield and outside Australia, batted for the rest of the day in strong partnerships with Liam Scott (34 from 82), and spinner Todd Murphy (33 from 91) as the Aussies ended the day 7-282.
The series is being viewed as something of an audition for the Australia men’s Test team’s five-match tour of the subcontinent starting late January.
But it has not gone to plan for anyone. The Aussies were soundly beaten in the first match last week, going down by 162 runs.
Crucially, none of the Aussie batters scored a half-century and of the bowlers, Todd Murphy (7-125) was the only one to make impressions in both innings.
Konstas made scores of 25 and 20, while Philippe – albeit batting at No.6 – made 14 and 7. Young all-rounder Campbell Kellaway made 2 and 0 opening with Konstas and was dropped for the second match.
This latest innings could put Harper in the conversation for a trip to South Africa, given the senior side is without a reserve wicket keeper after Josh Inglis was sent home from the tour after suffering a finger injury in the second ODI.
An Australia A women's team is also currently touring India. At stumps on the first day of a sole four-day match in Punjab, the hosts are 9-351.
Lilly Mills and Charli Knott were the pick of the Aussie bowlers with three wickets each, while Tess Flintoff, Milly Illingworth and Frankie Nicklin chipped in with a pole each.
