Sheffield Shield 2025-26: Sam Konstas struggles
Konstas, the 20-year-old Australia opener, who endured a tough outing in the three-match Test series in the Caribbean, made a disappointing start to his Sheffield Shield season. Playing for New South Wales against Western Australia at the WACA in Perth, Konstas was out lbw for 4 off 25 balls in the first innings, trapped in front by left-arm seamer Joel Paris.
After a close first-innings battle which saw Western Australia respond to NSW's 170 all out with 161 all out, Konstas got his second gig of the match on day three, but he couldn't make the most of that either. This time, he was dismissed for 14 off 15 balls by Matthew Kelly as NSW collapsed to 90-6 at the time of writing.
Marnus Labuschagne shines
Marnus Labuschagne, who found himself dropped from the Test XI during the West Indies tour, began the season with a big score. The former World No.1 batter made 160 for Queensland against Tasmania at the Allan Border Field in Brisbane. This came after Tasmania had scored 379 in the first innings.
Labuschagne partnered with Matt Renshaw, who also scored a hundred (128) to add 134 runs for the second wicket, before stitching 156 for the third wicket with Jack Clayton (59). Before Labuschagne came out to bat, Usman Khawaja, another incumbent Australia opener, had made 69 off 118 balls.
Queensland's batters helped them post a mammoth 612, taking a lead of 233 runs.
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Nathan McSweeney, another contender to open the batting alongside Khawaja, also failed twice, registering a duck in the first innings and just 6 runs in the second.
Scott Boland, who could get a game if Pat Cummins, who has an injury cloud hanging over him, misses any in the Ashes, started with a spell of 2-53 from 23 overs in the first innings for Victoria against South Australia.
Meanwhile, Australia would be pleased with the progression of all-rounder Cameron Green so far, who returned to bowling after a long injury layoff and started with a wicket in his first over. He finished with 1-13 in the first innings for Western Australia against NSW, before making 19 runs with the bat. He also took a stunner at gully.
Nathan Lyon, meanwhile, took one wicket for 50 runs for NSW during WA's only innings so far.