Australia's 19-Year-Ol Prodigy Sam Kontas Set To Break 100-Year-Old Record In Boxing Day Test At MCG (Source: X)
Australia's 19-year-old prodigy was picked in the squad for the final two Tests against India. Kontas boosted his case with a strong show in Shield cricket. He also scored a hundred against India A while playing for PM XI in the practice game before showing his versatility with a half-century on his BBL debut. Kontas was initially snubbed for Nathan McSweeney, however, he was dropped from the squad following a poor show in the first three Tests.
Kontas had good odds of making his Australia debut in the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Kontas will break a near 100-year-old record if he is picked in the Australia XI. The 19-year-old will become the youngest opener for Australia in Tests, bettering Archibald Jackson, who opened with Sir Don Bradman.
Jackson made his Test debut at 19 years 149 days in the 1928/29 Ashes. Unfortunately, his career was cut short tragically due to Tuberculoses. He passed away at the age of just 23 with 474 Test runs at 47.40 from eight outings for his country. Konstas, meanwhile, will make his debut at age 19 years 85 days.
Meanwhile, McSweeney's snub left Michael Clake upset who feels McSweeney deserved a longer rope and the snub could well end his career.
"Everyone apart from Nathan McSweeney is over 30 years of age and high 30s. What are we going to do? Continue to give a youngster two or three games, drop him, try someone else and keep these older players?" Clarke said on the Beyond23 cricket podcast, as quoted from The Sydney Morning Herald.
What happens if Usman Khawaja in two Test matches retires? Does McSweeney then come back in, or does he go to the back of the queue? They have got to come out and say: 'We made a mistake picking him.' This could end Nathan McSweeney's career. They picked him and he deserved the summer. No matter who they picked in that opening position, they had to give him [McSweeney] the series. I think the selectors have got this wrong," he remarked.
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