Former Australian batter Michael Hussey has called for fans to be patient with the Test side’s new-look top order following last week’s unconvincing performance during the Frank Worrell Trophy series opener against the West Indies.
In the absence of the injured Steve Smith and dropped Marnus Labuschagne, Australia’s inexperienced top four struggled on the lively Bridgetown deck, stumbling towards 3-22 and 4-65 before a middle-order rebuild rescued the tourists.
Teenager opener Sam Konstas failed to survive Shamar Joseph’s opening burst in either innings of the Barbados Test, dismissed by the West Indies quick in both innings and posting scores of 3 and 5.
Last summer, the 19-year-old burst on the international scene with a whirlwind half-century against India at the MCG, but he hasn’t reached fifty in five Test knocks since.
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“The conditions did not look easy for batting at all, there was a lot of uneven bounce, up and down bounce, sideways movement off the seam as well,” Hussey told Fox Cricket.
“(Konstas) is still a very young player, he’s only 19. He’s still trying to figure out his own game, at first-class level, let alone Test-match level in conditions that are so foreign to what he would be used to. I’m not sure he would have ever batted on pitches like what they’re getting in the West Indies.
“It’s great education for him, and we’re going to have to have some patience. It’s going to take some time and he’s going to have to learn on the job a bit.
“But there’s no denying he’s got some great talent. I’m sure that the journey is going to be bumpy, particularly in the first few years. There’s going to be some ups and downs, but let’s hope there’s a few more ups than downs along the way.”
Konstas appeared to be stuck in two minds during the second innings in Bridgetown, uncertain whether to soak up pressure like a traditional opener or counterpunch with aggressive strokes. On two occasions he charged down the pitch at Joseph, throwing his head back in frustration when he couldn’t replicate the glamorous strokes that made him a household name on Boxing Day.
The right-hander was dropped twice in the slips cordon but couldn’t make the most of the double reprieve, chopping back onto his stumps after a hesitant defensive prod.
Hussey believes that Konstas is grappling with an identity crisis, suggesting the opener was “a little bit unsure” about the most effective strategy for batting in foreign conditions against an unfamiliar opposition.
“You’re asking a young kid that hasn’t played a lot of first-class cricket to do that at Test match level. It’s a tough ask,” Hussey said.
“You need to have a really strong technique to be able to get through some difficult spells early, get that shine off the ball, and then it’s finding the balance of soaking up that pressure but still being able to score and put pressure back on the bowlers.
“Generally speaking his technique looks pretty sound. Then the mental side of the game kicks in and he’s just a little bit unsure, but that’s probably down to unfamiliar conditions in the West Indies.”
Hussey also acknowledged that Konstas was vulnerable to inswinging deliveries, with Joseph trapping him on the pads in the first innings.
“The ball coming back into him seems to give him a little bit of trouble,” Hussey continued.
“I feel as though teams will be targeting balls running back towards the stumps, LBW and bowled. He could probably just tighten up on that little part of his game a bit, but generally speaking his technique is reasonably sound.”
Meanwhile, Cameron Green has come under the microscope following four failures with the bat since his long-awaited return to the Test side. Elevated to No. 3 at the expense of the experienced Labuschagne, the West Australian has notched scores of 4, 0, 3 and 15 in the unfamiliar role, caught in the slips cordon on each occasion.
However, captain Pat Cummins has backed Green as Australia’s long-term No. 3 despite the scratchy start to his tenure at first drop.
“They’re pretty keen to get him into that role,” Hussey said of Green.
“They’ll give him definitely all three Test matches of the series to hopefully have a chance to nail down that position at No. 3, it’s a pretty important role.
“It’ll take a little bit of time. There’s definitely a little bit of adjustment moving from say No. 5 or 6 up to No. 3, facing the new ball and fresh bowlers and fresh pitches. It is going to be tough.
“But his record in first-class cricket in Australia is outstanding, averaging over 50, so I think he’s got the technique and temperament to be able to grow into that role.”
However, Hussey predicted the first half of the upcoming Sheffield Shield season would “without doubt” be crucial for Green and other fringe batters fighting for Test spots ahead of the Ashes – including the axed Labuschagne.
“I think there’s a lot of motivation for a lot of good players that are knocking on the door,” Hussey said.
“The start of the Sheffield Shield season is going to be fascinating. If you’re a good player and you can hit the ground running and score some big scores early in that Sheffield Shield season, you can put your name right in the forefront of the selectors’ minds.”
Hussey also congratulated Nathan Lyon following the veteran spinner’s decision to pass the coveted song-master role to teammate Alex Carey. Lyon received the illustrious honour from Hussey following his Test retirement in 2013, leading 67 renditions of ‘Under the Southern Cross’ across the past 12 years.
“The team was in transition when I was retiring and I wasn’t exactly sure who was going to be able to go and have a long career,” Hussey recalled.
“Thankfully Nathan’s been able to go on. He’s led the song more than anyone out of all the past song-masters, and he’s done a great job with it.
“It was surprising, I must admit. Normally it’s when someone retires or they become captain that they pass the song on. He obviously still wants to continue playing, but feels like the time’s right for him to pass it onto Carey, who’s another great character and another great person. I’m sure he’ll do a wonderful job with it.”
The second Test between the West Indies and Australia gets underway in St George’s on Thursday, with the first ball scheduled for 12am AEST on Friday morning.
