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Trent Copeland defends Konstas from court of public opinion
Sam Kosack • January 9th, 2025 3:51 pm
Sydney Thunder General Manager Trent Copeland has defended Sam Konstas from online vitriol as public opinion of the teenager becomes increasingly divided.
Konstas set the cricketing world alight in his debut Test match, notching 60 runs off 65 balls in an elaborate display of shots to every part of the ground.
The teenager's bag of batting tricks, plus his ability to get under the skin of the Indian team, shot him into the spotlight, and with that, into the court of public opinion.
Copeland says that the 19-year-old is different to the current generation of Australian Test cricketers, and he can handle his rise to cricket stardom.
“He’s got this bravado and confidence that is really, really useful in the contest so he can get out there and, in his words, puff his chest out and take the game on,” the former Australian Test quick told SEN 1170 Breakfast.
“We don't have a single other player on our team under 30 and we don't have any other player who plays like this, let alone being part of the public persona and how we deal with success and failure.
“The problem is… we’re just not equipped to be talking about it with a methodical response. Everyone is like he's either amazing or he is no good. There is no in-between!”
The opener's star profile only rose across the remainder of the series, despite struggling to replicate his success from his debut innings at the MCG.
Konstas's Instagram followers rose by 262,000 following the MCG Test, typifying the new reality for Australia's youngest ever opening batter.
The Australian public will get another chance to see Konstas in action when he appears against Sri Lanka in the upcoming Test series beginning on January 29.
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