Veteran Australian cricket coach Greg Shipperd has urged national selectors to invest in young opener Sam Konstas this summer, suggesting the batsman has the potential to provide stability to the Test side for more than a decade. Shipperd highlighted Konstas’s recent form and adaptability as key reasons to recall him ahead of the upcoming New Zealand series.
Konstas, who impressed with an unbeaten 151 for New South Wales amid struggles among Australia’s top order in the series against South Africa in Gqeberha, has demonstrated his readiness following consistent performances. Before that innings, he recorded a 67 for Australia A and scored 71 runs in a first innings effort at the WACA. Shipperd, who has three decades of coaching experience at the domestic level, noted that Konstas’s ability to respond positively after being dropped last year reflected maturity and resilience.
“He’s a sharp young fellow and he’s been through the turmoil of that last season and shifted that around quickly within the season,” Shipperd said during an interview on SEN. “He’s started this season beautifully, played well for Australia A in India. I think it’s time for that next generation to show its faith. If selectors are prepared to take a risk, that risk could serve the team well for the next 15 years.”
Konstas first gained national attention with a notable half-century on Test debut at the MCG in December 2024, famously dismissing Indian bowler Jasprit Bumrah during that series. However, he did not reach the 50-run mark again in subsequent innings and was omitted from the squad ahead of tours to Sri Lanka and the West Indies due to inconsistent form. Shipperd, who coached Konstas at New South Wales during that period, explained the batsman faced a “realisation point” regarding his approach after initially relying heavily on aggressive batting tactics.
“He thought his aggressive style might be sustainable,” Shipperd said. “But domestic cricket challenges you differently, and bowlers are better. He needed to tidy and refine his technique, and towards the end of last year, his innings resembled that of Marnus Labuschagne—consistent 30s and solid starts. This indicates improvement in his preparation and mindset.”
Shipperd proposed Konstas as a potential opening partner for Matthew Renshaw in the upcoming New Zealand series, emphasizing the need to find a stable opening pair to strengthen Australia’s batting lineup.
Meanwhile, former world No. 1 Test batsman Marnus Labuschagne, who has struggled to convert starts into centuries—remaining without a hundred in his last 47 innings and averaging about 25 during that span—could be promoted to open in the final Test against South Africa this week. Shipperd offered to assist Labuschagne as an “outside set of eyes” to help analyze his ongoing century drought.
“I’d love to sit down with him to understand his thought process,” Shipperd said. “We’d review moments, ask ‘What would you do if you faced that ball again?’ and explore the mental and tactical aspects behind his decisions. The goal is to align mindset, strategy, and technique with team objectives and performance execution.”
With the Test summer approaching, Australia’s selectors face decisions over their batting combinations, balancing the future potential of players like Konstas against the need to support established stars working through form issues.