Konstas fails in first Ashes audition as Test smokey benefits from Khawaja blunder

Sam Konstas’ quest for an Ashes call-up is off to a shaky start, with the incumbent Test opener dismissed for 4 on day one of New South Wales’ Sheffield Shield clash against Western Australia in Perth.

The right-hander, who celebrated his 20th birthday on Thursday, was trapped on the pads by left-armed seamer Joel Paris in the seventh over after Western Australia won the toss and chose to bowl first at the WACA

Paris was generating plenty of swing on Saturday morning, hooping the Kookaburra past Konstas’ inside edge to leave the Blues in early trouble at 1-9.

Batting in challenging conditions, Konstas had already survived two marginal LBW appeals and a dropped chance, with wicketkeeper Joel Curtis putting down a difficult one-handed catch off the inside edge.

NSW was 3-35 when rain interrupted play, with Ashes hopeful Kurtis Patterson dismissed by seamer Cameron Gannon for 8.

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Elsewhere, Tasmanian opener Jake Weatherald got his summer off to a promising start, cracking a 99-ball 67 against Queensland at Brisbane’s Allan Border Field.

After winning the toss and choosing to bat first, the Tigers were in early strife at 3-33 in the 12th over as the Bulls seamers ripped through the top order, but Weatherald rebuilt the innings alongside captain Jordan Silk, with the duo combining for an 80-run partnership for the fourth wicket.

Weatherald was earlier gifted an extra life on 3 when Test opener Usman Khawaja put down a regulation chance at first slip off Jack Wildermuth’s bowling. The 30-year-old reached a half-century in 81 balls before falling victim to experienced quick Michael Neser, who held onto a superb return chance during the afternoon session.

Since the start of last summer, Weatherald has averaged 57.62 in first-class matches for Tasmania and Australia A, putting him firmly in the frame for a Test call-up.

Silk, who later celebrated his 13th first-class hundred, combined with all-rounder Brad Hope for a 150-run partnership for the fifth wicket to put the Tigers in a commanding position of 6-299 at stumps.

Meanwhile, Tasmanian all-rounder Beau Webster was sidelined for the red-ball contest due to a minor ankle injury.

Down at Adelaide Oval, South Australian opener Henry Hunt put his name on the Ashes radar with unbeaten century against Victoria at Adelaide Oval, rescuing the hosts after an early stumble.

Captain Nathan McSweeney was dismissed for a 21-ball duck as South Australia collapsed to 3-58 at lunch, with Victorian quick Mitchell Perry snaring all three wickets.

However, Hunt and veteran teammate Jake Lehmann batted through the following two sessions unscathed, steering South Australia towards 3-270 at stumps. Hunt, who faced 300 deliveries, was unbeaten overnight on 121, with Lehmann not far behind on 107.

The third-leading run-scorer among openers during last summer’s Sheffield Shield, Hunt has accumulated 803 runs at 36.50 for South Australia since the start of the 2024/25 season.

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