Sam Konstas, Steve Smith press conference, Ashes news, video, highlights

Australian superstar Steve Smith has offered to mentor Sam Konstas as the embattled opener fights to keep his Test career alive following a challenging period in red-ball cricket.

Konstas’ Boxing Day blitz made him a household name last summer, but after a lean start to his Sheffield Shield campaign, the incumbent Test opener is at serious risk of missing selection for the Ashes.

Since his dazzling half-century against India at the MCG, Konstas has averaged 11.44 in the Test arena, failing to reach fifty in nine knocks. He averaged 8.33 during the recent Frank Worrell Trophy campaign against the West Indies in the Caribbean, a tour that exposed apparent flaws in his batting technique.

Konstas cracked a century during last month’s Australia A tour of India — albeit in a high-scoring contest on a flat surface — also reaching triple figures during a NSW intra-squad match in Sydney.

However, the right-hander has started his home summer with scores of 4, 14, 40, 0, 53 and 20 for the Blues across formats — with Marnus Labuschagne and Jake Weatherald bashing down the door for an Ashes call-up, Konstas may not be required for the five-Test campaign against England.

Despite flashes of brilliance with the willow — notably his ramped six against Test quick Scott Boland during last week’s Sheffield Shield clash in Melbourne — Konstas’ erratic shot choices and lack of consistency have become a source of frustration.

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Speaking to reporters in Sydney on Tuesday, Smith declared his door was “always open” if Konstas ever needed advice or some words of wisdom.

“Whenever he wants to chat batting, I love talking batting. I’m happy to help wherever I can,” Smith said.

“He’s obviously going through a bit of a period right now where he’s trying to figure out how he wants to play. If he wants any help with that, my phone’s always on.”

Konstas is mentored by former Australian all-rounder Shane Watson, while he has a personal batting coach in Tahmid Islam, a former Bangladesh first-class batter. New South Wales coach Greg Shipperd has also fast-tracked his development.

However, Smith warned that Konstas himself needed to figure out what style of cricketer he wants to be — and from there the runs will flow.

“You’ve got to let these young players figure it out for themselves and find the way that they want to play,” Smith continued.

“I think back to when I was young, I had to figure it out. There were people that I could speak to, but ultimately you’re the one out in the middle playing. It’s your career.

“From what I’ve seen, he’s got so much time as a batter when he’s facing fast bowling. That’s something you can’t really teach, so that’s a good starting point.

“There’s a few things that he has to obviously work on, but he’s a bright talent as we’ve seen and he’s got a bright future.”

He added: “He can take all the advice he wants from all different people, but there’s no one to hold your hand out there in the middle.”

Like Konstas, Smith made his Test debut at an early age before slipping out of the starting XI following a period of middling form.

However, after a couple of prolific seasons in the Sheffield Shield, Smith made his Test return in 2013 following the retirement of Michael Hussey and developed into one of the most successful cricketers of the modern era.

Although Konstas may miss selection for this summer’s Ashes, a vacancy will open up following the pending retirement of veteran Usman Khawaja, who turns 39 this year. Having celebrated his 20th birthday earlier this month, time is on Konstas’ side.

“We’ve seen he’s got all the gears,” Smith continued.

“He’s got a solid technique and temperament. He’s a good kid. He wants to learn and get better.

“You’ve got to remember, this kid’s still very young. He hasn’t played a lot of even four-day cricket, let alone Test cricket.

“He’s still learning and he’s going to get better and better.”

Last week, former Australian opener David Warner sympathised with Konstas’ situation, acknowledging how challenging it can be for a youngster to burst onto the scene — something he experienced first-hand following his own unforgettable international debut at the MCG in 2009.

“It’s upon all of us to keep encouraging him,” Warner said of Konstas.

“It’s (the media’s) job to write stories and create headlines, but for a young kid, it’s very difficult.

“I see that bravado with him. I see that confidence. I see him taking it on, and it’s hard to come back from that.

“I can understand and feel what he’s going through. It’s exciting. He’s a 20-year-old guy playing cricket for Australia, feeling like I’m a rock star. It’s going to have that repercussion as well when you do get dropped.”

Warner, who captains Konstas with the Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League, still expects big things from the Sutherland product.

“I don’t think we’ve seen exactly what we know Konstas can do,” he continued.

”Last year, he probably got overwhelmed by the occasion, and we saw some very highlighted cricket.

“But I’ve seen him build innings. I’ve seen him play some fantastic innings, and I’d like to see him go back to just doing that.”

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