Konstas leaves Sri Lanka to play Sheffield Shield

Sam Konstas’s Sri Lanka tour is officially over with the teenage star returning to Australia to play Sheffield Shield for NSW.

Despite an impressive first two Tests, Konstas was replaced at the top of the batting order by the more experienced Travis Head in last week’s series opener in Galle.

With Head making a speedy half-century to set the tone for Australia’s big win, Konstas was set to miss selection again for the second match beginning Thursday.

Konstas trained with the team at their main session in Galle on Tuesday before packing his bags to fly back to Australia in the evening, Cricket Australia confirmed.

CA determined the 19-year-old would be better served lining up for NSW against Queensland from Saturday at the Gabba – a Test venue at which he has never played – than watching from the sidelines in Galle.

Australia will have adequate concussion substitutes in Konstas’s absence, with 15 remaining in the squad as well as development player Tanveer Sangha.

The tour was Konstas’s first with the Australian squad to Asia, but he previously attended development camps in Chennai and Sri Lanka.

He may have an additional opportunity to hone his skills against spin with an Australia A tour of India in the works for later in 2025.

After his famous start to life as a Test player, the Sri Lanka tour may have shaped as underwhelming for Konstas, who missed selection and was then struck down by a stomach bug.

But Head said Konstas would have learnt from the touring experience.

“Sam’s a big part of where we’re going, there’s no doubt about it,” Head said.

“Disappointed that he missed out on the first Test but great for him to be here, great for him to be experiencing conditions.”

Head expected Konstas would return to the top of the batting order when Australia travelled to England for the World Test Championship Final against South Africa in June.

“Most likely I’ll go back in the middle order and Sam will open,” the usual No.5 said.