Konstas’ non-selection for the first Test was subject to plenty of criticism in NSW, but he said he understood the selectors’ reasoning behind the decision to send Travis Head to the top of the order and include Josh Inglis on debut.
Inglis made a rapid century to vindicate his selection, and Konstas said he was not blindsided by the decision.
“I totally understood the decision, Travis Head’s a legend of the game and he’s been dominating in these conditions up top,” Konstas said.
“So for me it was trying to get exposure to Dubai, Sri Lanka, try to learn and I feel like I learned quite a bit about things if I do play in the subcontinent. That’s basically it.”
Earlier on Tuesday, Head had spoken about the value of Konstas’ presence on tour and the impact he has already had on Test cricket.
“Sam is a big part of where we’re going, no doubt about it,” he said. “Disappointing that he missed out on the first Test, but great for him to be here, great for him to be experiencing these conditions whether in the nets or not. He’s got a huge future.
“For someone to come in and take the game on like he did in Melbourne, just the confidence he’s got, it’s a good thing to have a young kid around with a bit of naiveness, plays the game the right way and [is] a good kid.
“It’ll just be how over the years he deals with adversity, and at this stage, it looks like he deals with it really well. He’s got a good character.”
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