Text size

Teenage opener Sam Konstas says he is ready and equipped to take on India’s feared pace attack in the Boxing Day Test after being named in the Australian squad for the first time.

The 19-year-old is ready to open at the sold-out Melbourne Cricket Ground alongside veteran Usman Khawaja, who at 38 is twice his age, after Nathan McSweeney was forced out after just three Tests.

“I’m very excited,” he told Fox Sports after being dismissed for a three-ball duck against Sydney Thunder in the Twenty20 Big Bash League on Saturday.

“I want to be challenged and have a few plans against India’s bowlers. I feel like I’m moving really well, so I hope I get that opportunity.”

Australia’s top order was terrorized by pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah in the first three Tests of the five-match series, which ended 1-1.

While McSweeney paid the price, Khawaja is also under pressure after a losing streak.

Konstas is not a guaranteed starter, with Josh Inglis and all-rounder Beau Webster also in the squad as other options.

Should he play, he would be Australia’s youngest Test debutant since captain Pat Cummins took the field against South Africa in Johannesburg in 2011

Konstas thrust himself into the limelight after becoming the youngest player since Ricky Ponting to score two centuries in the same Sheffield Shield game.

He also criticized a century while playing for the Prime Minister’s XI against India.

Konstas was hitting the nets last week when he received the call from Australian selector George Bailey.

“I was so excited and I immediately called my parents and they were very touched,” he said.

“Mom had tears in her eyes, so I tried not to cry. Dad was super proud. It was an incredible journey with all its ups and downs.”

mp/iwd