Ponting optimistic about uncapped Australia opener

Australia great Ricky Ponting believes Sam Konstas has the talent and demeanour to make the most of any opportunity that arises during the remainder of the Test series against India.
Konstas, 19, will make his international debut as both teams chase an unassailable lead as well as all-important ICC World Test Championship points.
“I’ve seen a lot, there’s a lot of talent there no doubt about it,” Ponting told The ICC Review.“The way he played in the PM’s XI game (he scored 107 against the Indians), the way that he was able to approach his first BBL game the other night... I know it’s different formats, but you can see that the talent is there and there’s also a bit of an attitude to go with it.
“And not a bad attitude, (but) an attitude that he knows that he’s good and he wants to show the world that he’s good.”
Featuring for the Prime Minister’s XI in a two-day game against the touring Indians after the Perth Test, Konstas attracted the spotlight with a century against the visiting side.
In his 11 first-class matches Konstas has scored 718 runs at an average of 42.2, including two centuries and three half-centuries.
However, for all his early success, Ponting emphasised the uncapped batter would still feel the jitters on his debut.
“There’s still a challenge there,” he said. “It’s a Test match. It’s your first Test match. You’re playing against some of the best bowlers in the world.
“It probably doesn’t get any bigger in world cricket right now. It’s like any other country debuting an opening batsman against our bowling attack, when you’ve got Starc, Cummins and Hazelwood there.”