‘He’s got the game’. But will Konstas still be opening in Sri Lanka?

Teen tyro Sam Konstas has the game and batting technique “well suited” to Sri Lanka’s spinning wickets according to Australia’s chief selector George Bailey, though it may not be enough to avoid being replaced by subcontinent opening specialist Travis Head.

Konstas has been the talk of world cricket since his Boxing Day pyrotechnics and run-ins with Indian duo Jasprit Bumrah and Virat Kohli, and will gear up for his first Asian tour at the end of the month.

The 19-year-old will feature alongside several of the Test set-up’s next generation in a touring squad led by Steve Smith, given that Pat Cummins is staying home awaiting the birth of his second child.

Cummins is also nursing the ankle injury he managed through the Border-Gavaskar series. Scans later this week could impact his availability for February’s Champions Trophy one-day tournament in Pakistan.

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