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Cricket NSW has backed the national selection panel’s decision to send Sam Konstas home early from Australia’s tour of Sri Lanka.
Konstas was not selected in Australia’s XI for last week’s first Test in Galle, which the tourists won convincingly by an innings and 242 runs.
The 19-year-old trained with the Australian squad earlier this week, before flying home on Tuesday evening.
Cricket Australia felt Konstas would be better served playing for NSW in its Sheffield Shield match against Queensland at the Gabba, which begins on Saturday.
The move was backed by Cricket NSW chief of cricket performance Greg Mail.
“Having Sam back is a boost for NSW but also a smart move from George Bailey and the national selection panel considering what is best for Sam and Australian cricket in the long term,” Mail said in a statement.
Konstas was replaced at the top of Australia’s batting order in the first Test by Travis Head.
Head made a quick-fire 57 from 40 deliveries while opening the batting alongside Usman Khawaja.
He said he expected Konstas to regain his opening spot when Australia plays South Africa in June’s World Test Championship final in England.
“Most likely I’ll go back in the middle order and Sam will open,” Head said.
Konstas scored a half-century in his Test debut against India. (Getty Images: Morgan Hancock)
Konstas made a blistering start to his Test career in December.
He threw caution to the wind while scoring 60 from 65 balls in Australia’s first innings against India in the Boxing Day Test at the MCG.
Konstas could not reach the same heights in the second innings, scoring 8 in Australia’s 184-run win.
He managed 23 and 22 when the hosts wrapped up the series with a six-wicket victory in the final Test at the SCG.
Konstas made headlines at the beginning of the season when he posted back-to-back centuries in NSW’s Sheffield Shield opener against South Australia in Sydney.
