Why young gun Sam Konstas is now a ‘lock’ to open the batting for Sydney Thunder in Big Bash with David Warner

Rising star Sam Konstas is now a ‘lock’ to keep plundering runs for the Sydney Thunder following a stunning Big Bash debut against the Adelaide Strikers in Canberra on Tuesday night.

Incredibly, the 19-year-old only opened the batting alongside captain David Warner due to an injury to Nic Maddinson. 

Konstas seized his moment, smashing the fastest 50 in Thunder history – off just 20 balls – in what was an eye-catching BBL debut.

Despite his plethora of red-ball runs this summer, including centuries for NSW and the PM’s XI against India, Konstas wasn’t going to be the first choice opener for the Thunder.

Instead it was veteran Maddinson – at his fourth BBL club – who was initially going to face the white ball with Warner.

Maddinson is out with a finger injury, and Warner declared Konstas was a ‘lock’ in the XI for the Sydney derby this weekend against the Sixers.

‘I was really nervous. It’s pretty surreal,’ Konstas said after finishing with 56 off just 27 balls in front of his family at Manuka Oval.

‘It’s quite special having my family here. Getting a few runs and contributing was nice.’

The teenager now has 736 runs this summer across the Sheffield Shield, One-Day Cup, Australia A and BBL along with his 107 for the Prime Minister’s XI.

Konstas continues to put pressure on newly installed Test opener Nathan McSweeney, who has passed 10 just once in five innings against India.

He failed again in Australia’s second innings on day five of the third Test in Brisbane, mustering just four off 25 balls. 

In commentary for Fox Cricket, England great Michael Vaughan declared Konstas ‘has got the ceiling to be world-class.’

‘You look at the movements, you look at his skill levels, the flow of the bat, the little tricks…he can seriously play,’ he said.

‘I think he’s a wonderful talent and he’s got a huge future.’