Konstas v Labuschagne in head-to-head battle
Much of the pre-series chat in Australia surrounds the top of the hosts’ batting order and whether young gun Sam Konstas will retain his place in the XI despite an inconsistent start to his international career.
Ponting believes the toughest decision selectors face is whether to stick with Konstas, or recall experienced right-hander Marnus Labuschagne and partner him with Usman Khawaja at the top of Australia’s batting order.
“We are in a really interesting little phase right now with the talk about the selections for this first Test match because it was well planned by Cricket Australia to have four Sheffield Shield games leading into the first Test,” Ponting began.
“Two of those games have been played already. Some guys have been standouts, other guys that are in the reckoning haven’t really taken their opportunity to the maximum just yet.
“We know Sam Konstas has been the incumbent as he played the last series in the West Indies, but he’s one that probably hasn’t capitalised as much as he would have liked in those first two (domestic) games.
“These players have still got probably four innings to go before that Test team has to get picked and we’ll have a bit of a clearer picture then.
“Marnus Labuschagne is the obvious one. Marnus, at his absolute best, is in Australia’s best team every day of the week.
“But he hasn’t been able to find his best form over the last couple of years. And it looks like now back at state level, he’s starting to find it again. It is certainly starting to look that way and he is a lot more confident in scoring.
“I think he’s made four centuries in his last six innings, so he’s going well, even though there is still a long, long way out.”