Ricky Ponting makes prediction about whether Sam Konstas will retain Test spot for Ashes

Former Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting believes the selectors will keep Sam Konstas at the top of the order when it comes time for the Ashes after a difficult series in the West Indies. Konstas was given another chance at opening for Australia in the 3-0 Test victory over the West Indies, but failed at the top of the order.

Marnus Labuschagne was dropped after the defeat to South Africa as selectors looked towards solidifying the opening pair ahead of the Ashes. Konstas got another opportunity to show fans his talent, but ultimately struggled on bowler-friendly wickets in Barbados, Grenada and Kingston.

Former Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting (pictured left) believes the selectors will keep Sam Konstas (pictured right) at the top of the order for the start of Ashes. (Images: Getty Images)

While no player across either team scored more than 75 runs in an innings in the three match series, Konstas particularly struggled. The 19-year-old only scored 50 runs across his six innings having averaged 8.33 in the series. 

And now it appears there is more pressure on Konstas than ever heading into the Ashes. South Australian Nathan McSweeney recently just scored runs for Australia and is pushing his claim for a return to the XI. 

Although Ponting believes the selectors will remain faithful to Konstas to start the series. Speaking on the ICC Review podcast, the former captain believes Konstas will be given a chance to prove himself in familiar conditions considering the difficulty all batters faced in the West Indies.

“The (batters) that they're talking about the last couple of weeks in particular, have been (Sam) Konstas and (Usman) Khawaja, and then there was some talk about Cameron Green, if he was a long term No.3 three or not,” Ponting said about the make-up of the side.

“(Green’s) second innings in the West Indies (in the last Test) might have just put some of that to bed. As tough as those conditions were to bat for as long as he did in trying conditions he might have silenced a few of those critics.

“I think with where they're at, I think the Ashes line-up is going to be like it is right now. I think that's what they're going to be starting with, and you keep your fingers crossed and hope that those guys can get the job done at the start.”

Aussie coach Andrew McDonald suggested Konstas does need to score some runs in the Sheffield Shield to prove he is ready for the Ashes. “I think it leaves him where everyone else is in terms of Shield cricket at the start of the season, we’re not going to shy away from the fact that will be big for certain individuals to go about their work, put some scores on the board, and, and then for us to look at what we need against England," McDonald said.

Green came under pressure after the World Test Championship final defeat to South Africa having struggled in his promotion to No.3 in the side. Although he showed some grit during the latest series having scored a half-century and two scores in the 40s.

Ricky Ponting believes Sam Konstas (pictured) will be at the top of the order come the Ashes.

Labuschagne's lean run of form across the last two years appears to have set him back in the pecking order when it comes to openers for the Ashes. While he will have an opportunity to score runs in the Sheffield Shield ahead of the series, McSweeney appears to be the only one pushing for a return.

But Ponting believes 25-year-old Jason Sangha could also be in the mix. Sangha recently scored two half centuries for Australia A against Sri Lanka A and recorded 126 not out in the Sheffield Shield final in March.

“The start of the Sheffield Shield season will be an interesting one for some of those names that I've mentioned there, and I'll throw another name in that I think is a highly talented Australian batsman, that's Jason Sangha," Ponting added. “I think he's someone whose name will probably come up at some stage as well, but there's just not many games now, not many opportunities to be able to get yourself and get your name up in front of the selectors.”

Scott Boland will also be pushing for selection in some of the matches when the pitches favour the quicks. Boland recently just took a hat-trick against the West Indies with Nathan Lyon dropped from the day-night Test. And it could be a sign of what is to come for the Aussies if wickets such as Adelaide and Perth favour the fast bowlers.

Ricky Ponting (pictured) feels the selectors are going to remain faithful to the XI that toured the West Indies.

This article originally appeared on Yahoo Sport Australia at https://au.news.yahoo.com/ricky-ponting-makes-prediction-about-whether-sam-konstas-will-retain-test-spot-for-ashes-000817549.html

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