Sheffield Shield: Sam Konstas bowled in blow to Ashes Test selection hopes

In short:

Sam Konstas has continued a sluggish start to the Sheffield Shield season, being bowled for 10 early in NSW's first innings against Queensland.

Konstas is the incumbent opener for Australia along with Usman Khawaja, but struggled during the most recent Test series in the West Indies.

What's next?

The first Ashes Test between Australia and England will be held at Perth Stadium, beginning on November 21.

NSW opener Sam Konstas's bid to open the batting for Australia in the first Ashes Test has taken another hit, after the 20-year-old was dismissed early on day two of the Sheffield Shield match against Queensland.

The opening day of play at the Gabba was washed out due to rain in Brisbane, leaving several hopefuls including Konstas and Queenslanders Matthew Renshaw and Marnus Labuschagne, stranded in the rooms.

Konstas got the first chance of the Test hopefuls on Wednesday morning when Queensland won the toss and sent NSW into bat.

Konstas had scored 10 runs from 23 balls, including a pair of boundaries, before he left a delivery from Hayden Kerr that clattered into the top of middle stump.

The make-up of Australia's top order is yet to be locked in ahead of the first Ashes Test in Perth, beginning on November 21. Who will partner Usman Khawaja has been one of the most interesting decisions for the Australian selectors.

Konstas is the incumbent opener with Khawaja, playing all three Test matches in Australia's tour of the West Indies in July.

The NSW batter made his Test debut in Melbourne last summer, scoring a breathtaking 60 in his first innings.

In his next nine innings in Test cricket, Konstas has only amassed another 103 runs.

Renshaw and Labuschagne have made promising starts to the Australian domestic season.

Batting at three in the Queensland order, Labuschagne is the leading run scorer across the opening two rounds with 337 runs.

Renshaw opened the batting for Queensland with Khawaja in its second round match against Tasmania, scoring 128.

Tasmania's Jake Weatherald has also made his case for selection with a strong start to the season, but was dismissed for a duck late on Tuesday against Victoria.

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