IAN Healy Gave Big Statement Regarding Sam Kontas: Australia’s legendary cricketer Ian Heli has also supported the demand to send Sam Constas back home from the tour of Sri Lanka, so that this young player could play some important Shepherd Shield matches before the World Test Championship to be held later this year. Contas recently made a splash by performing brilliantly in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series. His batting edge also made a lot of headlines. He was memorable with Indian fast bowler Jaspreet Bumrah.
However, after playing in the last two Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the 19-year-old player has not got a place in the Australia team against Sri Lanka in Galle. Josh Iglis made a place in place of Contas, while Travis Head opened. Australia won the first Test against Sri Lanka.
Australia dominated the hosts in Galle, so there is no possibility of making any changes in the team for the second Test starting on Thursday (06 February 2025). Ian Heli believes that Contas should return home to play for New South Wales in Sheffield Shield, so that he can get more red-ball experience before the World Test Championship Final.
Heli said, ‘You do not just give opportunities in the Test team, so as long as everyone is fit, the same team will remain. Australia’s team will remain the same, and I liked this idea (to send Contas home to play first class).
‘He spent a week in Dubai, trained in Sri Lanka for a week or more, watched the Test match and stayed in the dressing room and saw how the players were playing in every session.’
He said, ‘Now, if you do not want to play it, he can play for New South Wales and practice more and more red balls. He will return as an opening batsman against South Africa, so he will have to play some cricket with a red ball.
Heli believes that the last few weeks must have been a valuable experience of learning for Contas, helping her to understand what to do to succeed in foreign circumstances.
Earlier, former wicketkeeper Brad Hadin had said that Contas should return to New South Wales to play in the upcoming Sheffield Shield match against Queensland in Gaba.
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