Konstas will become the fourth-youngest Australian to make his Test debut at 19 years and 85 days on Boxing Day against India, with only Ian Craig, current captain Pat Cummins and Tom Garrett making their debuts at an older age. early.
“We said from the beginning, as we approached summer, that we wouldn’t shy away from use and that age was not a barrier,” McDonald said. And what he’s shown is a variety of shots, the ability to put pressure back on opponents and he gets his chance. “We’re very excited for him.”
Head had a brief knock Tuesday in the nets after running and fielding in the outfield, having done nothing in Monday’s optional session.
“Does he have some things to work on? Yes, he does,” McDonald said. “So that’s what you would have seen. There’s no concern at the moment. Has he been officially mad? I’m not sure. I didn’t see the kind of end of his training session there, but I’m pretty sure he’ll play.
“I thought he looked good with the bat in his hand, so obviously his skills are in good shape. Yeah, it’s basically going to be the risk associated with that. He had a little quad strain.
“But there are no worries on my part. He’s been able to run, yes, so I think he’ll be fully functional come game time.”
Head had a lengthy discussion with McDonald and Australian physiotherapist Nick Jones shortly after his hit into the nets, but the coach downplayed its significance.
“It was more about his fielding position and what he was capable of doing there,” McDonald said. “Clearly, after a tension, you have that, obviously the demands of the batting platform.
“So that’s what it was about. And my question to Nick Jones was simply about what I had to do to finish the session, so I was explaining it beforehand, or just making sure that nothing had changed during the session, and then just “I started talking about India, what they could do, so it wasn’t anything that specific.”
“If we don’t pick Scotty here, and I’m not allowed to declare the team, because that’s Pat’s job tomorrow, but I don’t think I’ll go down on Boxing Day if Scotty’s not in the XI. Then you can accept that too,” McDonald said.
McDonald stopped short of confirming whether there would be any further changes. It seems unlikely given Mitchell Marsh is in top form. He had one of his longest bowling spells of the summer in the nets on Tuesday and appeared to be moving well after overcoming the back problems that have plagued him since he suffered spasms in the fourth ODI against England in Lord’s back in September.
“Just to clarify, Mitch Marsh is fully fit and available to bowl,” McDonald said. “I know he only bowled two overs in the last game, and people were speculating about that, but that was more down to the weather interventions, and we can keep our fast bowlers fresh, even though we only had two of the three. “But he is ready. to play and I think he will play a bigger role in this Test match with the ball than in previous ones.
McDonald was glad to have him in the team along with the other replacement fast bowler, Sean Abbott, and feels he might be needed in Sydney if the Melbourne Test lasted five days and Australia’s bowlers were stretched to the limit. Although McDonald thought that was unlikely given the surface area and lighter loads that both Cummins and Mitchell Starc have had throughout the series so far.
“Jhye has been awesome,” McDonald said. “I clearly had a setback in the Shield game with my shoulder. Every week that goes by, people are confident that that reduces the risk. And what we saw in the networks today is a highly skilled player, and he is approaching his best level.” . , which is exciting for us.
“Bringing the two extra quicks in the team with a short change, I think it’s real. If this game goes long and becomes a short change, then you have to make some decisions. Our first-line quicks, in terms of Starcy and Paddy, they are well placed, probably less of a burden than we would have imagined after three Test matches, does that give them a chance to go back from Test four to Test five?
Alex Malcolm is associate editor of ESPNcricinfo
