Sam Konstas struck an unbeaten 109 off 141 balls in the second innings against South Australia at Central Park, Sydney in the Sheffield Shield 2026-27.
The 21-year-old young gun scored his second century of the ongoing Sheffield Shield season, pushing his case for a spot in Australia’s Test top order, which needs an overhaul after their 2-1 series defeat in South Africa.
Konstas helped New South Wales take a 70-run lead after they were bowled out for 201 in the first innings. Following Jake Weatherald’s 142 that propelled South Australia to 325, Konstas delivered a counter punch, hitting 13 fours in his knock.
After losing his opening partner Oliver Davies in the eighth over, Konstas stitched a 127-run stand with Kurtis Patterson (46) for the second wicket. His century powered NSW to 191-2 at the end of day two, and put them in a good position with eight wickets in hand.
Earlier, the youngster smashed 71 and 151 not out against Western Australia at the WACA in the first game of the season, and followed it up with 149 off 131 deliveries against the same opponents at the same venue in a List A contest.
Where does Sam Konstas stand in Australia's Test openers pecking order?
Australia have struggled to find a stable top order in the last few years: the two slots have been muscial chairs for the candidates. Konstas made his debut against India in late 2024 with a quick-fire 60 but was dropped after five Tests.
Usman Khawaja, who has reignited the Sandpapergate incident recently with his book, retired from Test cricket batting in the middle order, with Travis Head and Weatherald opening the innings in his final game.
Weatherald could last only six matches before he was dropped, having averaged just 20.36 from 12 innings with one fifty. This season, he has sent a reminder to the selectors with 142 off 171 in his most recent outings, but that may not be enough to earn him a recall with several others in the mix.
Matt Renshaw opened with Head in the last Test. Renshaw, who struck 74 in the first innings of that match, is likely to get a longer rope, despite a duck in the second. Head, on the other hand, can be moved down to the middle order, where he can do the most damage. His immense skills are not being utilised to the fullest at the top: this was evident in the South Africa series, where he made one century but couldn't cross the fifty-run mark in the other five innings.
That opens up a spot, and with the team management confirming that Marnus Labuschagne will not be considered for the next series, there are two spots up for grabs in the top order. Nathan McSweeney, who was treated somehwat unfairly – he got only three games where he had to face the peak of Jasprit Bumrah – may be in contention for a No.3 spot. He has two List A centuries since October, and has two fifties from five innings in the Sheffield Shield.
Nic Maddinson, who made his Test return after a decade and played the first two Tests against the Proteas, managed 0, 48, 0 and 8 from four innings and was sent home to play the Shield. He hasn't done much since to change the perception.
Given the options they have and current form, it will not be a stretch to say Konstas is leading the pecking order. If Australia do make the switch for Head in the middle order, Konstas could be the guy who partners Renshaw at the top. And perhaps this time the management will be more patient with their young talent, and not discard them after a few failures.
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