Sheffield Shield: Sam Konstas ‘hungry for runs’ as part of NSW team taking on Queensland at the Gabba

Batting at the Gabba is just as crucial to young opener Sam Konstas’ cricketing education as playing on the subcontinent. That was the verdict from NSW captain Jack Edwards as he backed the decision to send Konstas home early from Australia’s tour of Sri Lanka, where we wasn’t playing, to instead line up for the Blues against Queensland in a Sheffield Shield match starting on Saturday at the Gabba. “For Sam to go (to Sri Lanka) and still have experiences in those conditions training, I’m sure it’ll be amazing for him … (and) as much as he hasn’t played on the subcontinent, he also hasn’t played at the Gabba,” Edwards said on Friday. “He’s going to be in the Test team for a long time in the future, (and) he’s going to play a lot of cricket (at the Gabba). “Typically, in Shield cricket, you get more of a greener wicket here, a bit more grass on it, so it’s going to be a pretty good test. “The Bulls have (also) got a very strong bowling attack, so for him to get the experience as well is going to be great for him.” Edwards said Konstas, who debuted for Australia against India in the recently completed Test series, was “always hungry for runs”. “Whenever I’ve seen him play, he always wants to score as many runs as possible,” the NSW skipper said. “It’ll be great to have him back around the group. He’s coming off the back of a good Test summer, but also his energy and personality around the group is fantastic for us. “We’ve got a pretty young group. He’s got a lot of good mates. He’s not a shy guy so I’m sure he’ll fit back in well, and hopefully he can score a ton of runs for us.” Konstas will face a Bulls attack that will include Michael Neser, who took 10 wickets in Queensland’s first two Shield games of the season before injuring his hamstring playing for Australia “A” against India “A”. The fit-again Neser returned to cricket during the BBL season for the Brisbane Heat. NSW will be without veteran seamer Jackson Bird – the leading wicket taker in this season’s Shield competition – due to a leg strain.