The runs showed that the 19-year-old is clearly a step above, with only one other batsman in the top or middle order of the PM’s XI passing five runs.
Konstas has been the talk of the summer since October, when he became the youngest player to score two tons in a Sheffield Shield match since Ricky Ponting.
Konstas will face his next toughest test in the Shield this week, against a Western Australian attack expected to include Lance Morris, Joel Paris and Corey Rocchiccioli.
Teenage debutants are rare in Australia, with Ashton Agar being the last man to do so in 2013. Asked if he felt he needed more time scoring runs in domestic cricket rather than being called up straight away, Konstas said it was a case of the latest.
“I really want to have the opportunity, I love being challenged and I hope that can happen soon,” Konstas said. “I feel like I’m in a good mental situation. It’s been the best few months I’ve ever had and I hope that one day I can represent my country.
“For me, it’s about focusing on Friday and then trying to score runs to get ahead. It would be a great honor to represent my country one day.”
Konstas has already earned plenty of praise for his rise this summer. His mentor Shane Watson, potential Sydney Thunder starting partner David Warner and Steven Smith are among those congratulating him on their careers.
But blocking the hype has been easy for Konstas. The Under-19 World Cup winner spent most of his teenage years without social media, only signing up in recent months to promote sponsors.
He is also a great pre-match meditator and moves quickly towards the wicket in a statement at the start of his innings.
“It doesn’t faze me too much [the hype]”Konstas said. “It’s about being in the present and being the best version of myself, and then hopefully letting the outcome take care of itself.”
Likewise, Konstas said he was not too depressed about missing trial selection for the start of the summer.
“I feel like it’s all part of the journey,” he said. “Unfortunately, I didn’t get the runs I would have liked. But I’ve been reflecting on how I could have done better and questioning how they got me out and the tactics they used.”
