Andrew McDonald's Sam Konstas admission as fast bowlers' fitness examined for Sydney

19-year-old Sam Konstas made his debut in the Boxing Day Test and quickly became known to the world. His promising performance has caught the attention of Australian head coach Andrew McDonald, who praised Konstas for his rapid learning ability. McDonald expressed optimism about the young batter's potential after seeing his batting display.

Konstas had the opportunity to practice with Steve Smith, and McDonald humorously remarked, "I hope Constance doesn’t adopt Smith’s relentless work ethic; that would mean more time for our coaches!" He elaborated, "It’s incredibly important for young players to be around experienced players. These interactions shape a player's journey and understanding of the game, especially when they step onto the international stage."

Meanwhile, ahead of the Sydney Test, Australia has concerns about Mitchell Starc, who has been troubled by an injury. However, McDonald remains hopeful that Starc will be available for the Sydney match. "We are keeping an eye on him. Starc has a slight issue, and we are monitoring it," said McDonald. He added, "We will assess his physical condition thoroughly before the match. It’s not common for us to face such physical challenges in recent years, so we need to be ready for quick recovery in our players."

Another concern for the Australian team is Mitchell Marsh, who missed the first Test due to a back issue. However, McDonald assured that Marsh is fully fit. "There has been a lot of talk about this, but there’s no injury. He is completely fit, and there’s no doubt he’ll perform well."