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"He's part of the future": Border questions decision to drop Konstas despite Inglis's debut 100
Sam Kosack • January 31st, 2025 3:05 pm
Australian cricket legend Allan Border still questions the decision to drop Sam Konstas from the first Test in Sri Lanka despite Josh Inglis’s maiden Test century on debut.
Inglis was presented with baggy green number 470 before Day 1 of the first Test and went on to score 102 runs off 94 balls, becoming the first Australian to score a century on debut since Adam Voges in 2015.
Konstas was the player to make way for Inglis, and while the decision ultimately paid dividends for selectors, Allan Border wasn’t convinced dropping the teenage opener was the correct decision.
“I thought he got through that pretty well… he’s part of the future so why leave him out at this stage,” Border told SEN 1170 Mornings.
“You pick a young guy, he’s got through the baptism of fire with Bumrah… it was very difficult times for top of the order players.
“To leave him out considering you need to get experience in those conditions to understand the turning ball… you can’t learn that in the nets.
“They missed an opportunity to keep him in the side but it all worked.”
Border admitted the decision to select Inglis had paid off significantly.
“You got to tip your hat to the selectors,” Border said.
“The debutant situation where you get a hundred on debut was fantastic.
“Josh (Inglis) played really well and deserved his time in there to have a crack because he's been dominating (Sheffield) Shield, I just thought the Konstas thing was an odd one.”
Day Three of the Test continues in Galle, with Australia holding a 610-run lead.
