Who is this clown? How Konstas won Langer over

Test fable Justin Langer says he’s conscionable arsenic confused arsenic Australian cricket fans astir the unhealthy merry-go-round opening position, but he’s backing Sam Konstas to get the occupation done if selected.

Just who will unfastened alongside Usman Khawaja for this summer’s blockbuster Ashes bid remains a immense talking point, with Sheffield Shield performances expected to settee the statement implicit the coming weeks.

In Langer’s eyes, Cameron Green should bat astatine No.3, and the contention is down to Konstas, Nathan McSweeney, Cameron Bancroft, Marcus Harris and Marnus Labuschagne for the vacant opening position.

Konstas, who turned 20 connected Thursday, became an instant deed past summertime when helium reverse ramped his way to 60 disconnected 65 balls successful his Test debut against a red-hot Jasprit Bumrah.

The rising star has struggled since then, with his batting mean sitting astatine 16.3 aft 5 Tests, but caller scores of 109 and 49 for Australia A person revived hopes helium will beryllium successful signifier for the Ashes.

“He showed past year that he’s got the temperament to bash it,” Langer said.

“Bumrah’s accelerated bowling past year was the champion accelerated bowling I’ve ever seen successful in my career.

“So for Konstas to person the courageousness … I retrieve sitting adjacent to (Matthew) Hayden and (Ricky) Ponting successful the Channel Seven commentary container and we’re looking: ‘Who is this clown? What is helium doing?’

“But then … helium won the hearts of each Australians doing it. He took connected the champion bowler successful the world.”

Konstas was surprisingly axed for the two-Test tour of Sri Lanka earlier this year, and helium was besides overlooked for the Test Championship nonaccomplishment to South Africa.

“I recovered it confusing, and a batch of radical felt confused,” Langer said.

“David Warner played for 14 years and had 13 opening partners. Usman Khawaja has had (five) opening partners successful a year. And that instability, it can’t beryllium healthy.

“The very information that we’re talking astir it (who is going to open), and the nationalist are a spot confused astir it, that’s saying something.”

Konstas endured signifier struggles successful the Shield past summertime arsenic helium attempted to slowly work his way into some innings.

Langer would emotion Konstas to clasp his attacking identity.

“I mean, if Michael Slater had person gone connected to beryllium a antiaircraft batter, helium wouldn’t person been Michael Slater. If Adam Gilchrist had been defensive, helium wouldn’t person been Adam Gilchrist,” Langer said.

“Sam will find his feet, he’ll find his individuality arsenic a cricketer. And the sooner helium does that, and helium gets encouraged to bash that, the better.”

Langer says some England and Australia will participate the Ashes with superior wounded concerns.

For Australia, the fittingness of skipper Pat Cummins (back) is the astir worrying aspect.

England gait duo Mark Wood (knee) and Jofra Archer (elbow/thumb) are underdone, while skipper Ben Stokes has battled a enarthrosis wounded this year.

Langer says England deficiency a world-class spinner, and it could beryllium an country to exploit.

Meanwhile, Langer has warned Cricket Australia against rushing successful to privatise the BBL, saying it would beryllium champion to observe whether it works successful England first.

“I would similar to spot Australian cricket clasp their nervus and spot however it goes implicit the adjacent year oregon two years, due to the fact that there’s a cleanable lawsuit study there successful The Hundred,” Langer said.

“The evident happening is to conscionable leap connected committee and bash it. Sometimes the evident happening isn’t the close happening to do.”

Source: AAP