"There's also a bit of an attitude to go with it" - Ricky Ponting backs Australian opener ahead of BGT 2024-25 4th Test

Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting believes young opener Sam Konstas has what it takes to succeed at the international level. Ponting observed that the youngster has a good attitude towards his game and wants to prove his worth at the highest level.

The 19-year-old initially missed out on making it to the Australian squad squad, as the selectors picked Nathan McSweeney. McSweeney was dropped after his struggles in the first three Tests, so the selectors opted to go with Konstas over his penchant for attacking from the get-go.

Speaking on the latest episode of the ICC Review, Ponting reckons Konstas has obvious talent, evidenced by his performance in the PM XI vs India practice game and the BBL fixture.

"I've I've seen a lot, there's a lot of talent there no doubt about. The way he played in the PM's XI game, the way that he was able to approach his first BBL game the other night … I know it's different formats, but you can see that the talent is there and there's also a bit of an attitude to go with it. And not a bad attitude, (but) an attitude that he knows that he's good and he wants to show the world that he's good.”

Konstas made 107 against the Indians in a warm-up game and became the fastest debutant to score a BBL fifty, getting there in 20 balls. Nevertheless, the right-hander's Test debut in Melbourne will come only after 11 first-class matches.

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"You're playing against some of the best bowlers in the world" - Ricky Ponting's message to Sam Konstas

Sam Konstas. (Image Credits: Getty)

Ponting equally warned Sam Konstas that he will be up against one of the best in Jasprit Bumrah, comparing it to how a debutant gets challenged against Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood.

He stated in the aforementioned interview:

"There's still a challenge there. It's a Test match. It's your first Test match. You're playing against some of the best bowlers in the world. It probably doesn't get any bigger in world cricket right now. It's like any other country debuting an opening batsman against our bowling attack, when you've got Starc, Cummins and Hazelwood there."

"Bumrah has obviously been the standout and probably the leading fast bowler in Test cricket at the moment. So Konstas will have a great challenge there, no doubt about it," Ponting added.

The five-Test series between Australia and India is currently locked at 1-1 with two matches still to go.