Shipperd on Thursday backed Konstas to return to Australia’s Take a look at staff for June’s World Championship remaining towards South Africa, after being squeezed out of current matches in Sri Lanka.
The opener’s batting will face one other check towards the pink ball this weekend in Hobart, as he tries to assist pilot NSW into the Sheffield Defend remaining.
The headline act of the summer season since his twin tons for NSW in October, Konstas’ eye-catching batting has been a degree of consternation for months. He was a nationwide sensation when he disrupted Jasprit Bumrah’s rhythm by repeatedly reverse-scooping the Indian maestro on Take a look at debut on Boxing Day.
However his strategy has since been closely scrutinised, notably when bowled making an attempt to slog-sweep Scott Boland within the third over of a Defend match final month. That dismissal prompted questions over whether or not Konstas might regain his spot for the Take a look at Championship remaining, with one other top-order squeeze looming at Lord’s.
The opener responded by not enjoying an attacking shot in his first 30 balls within the second innings towards Victoria, earlier than making a 107-ball 50 as NSW held on for a attract Perth final week.
“I am undecided he deliberate that [aggressive approach to Boland], I believe it simply unfolded in that specific second,” Shipperd mentioned. “With discussions and reconsideration of what a batting plan seems to be like, he is made some changes.
“Meaning to me he is listening and he is studying, and that is essential for him at this stage of his profession. He is nonetheless working the sport out.
“I might be very shocked if the Australian selectors weren’t contemplating him strongly for that opening place [for the WTC final].
Shipperd mentioned he has been in common contact with Australia coach Andrew McDonald and selectors round Konstas’ growth. The 19-year-old batted with a much more typical strategy early in the summertime, earlier than changing into extra audacious along with his batting from December on.
“Fairly clearly we will see that there are occasions when that methodology has been profitable for him,” the NSW coach mentioned. “However as a normal theme we’re encouraging him, as many of the skilled pundits round are calling for, for a extra constant strategy.
“Discovering the proper time within the innings and likewise contemplating what the staff wants at that specific second.
“We’re inspired that he is studying every sport and he is contemplating all of those points as every innings unfolds for him.”
The Tasmania match might doubtlessly be Konstas’ final earlier than the Take a look at Championship remaining, if NSW fail to qualify for the Defend decider and he doesn’t land an English county deal.
With one spherical to play within the Defend, bonus factors are prone to decide who of Queensland, NSW, Western Australia or Victoria qualify for the ultimate towards South Australia.