Konstas hits career-best 173 in Sydney to press his Test recall case

Sam Konstas, the 21-year-old New South Wales opener, struck a career-best 173 against South Australia in the Sheffield Shield at Cricket Central in Sydney on Friday (November 13), guiding New South Wales to 410 in their second innings and past South Australia. Konstas now leads this season's Shield run-scoring charts with 426 runs, and with Australia's selectors due to name their squad for the first Test against New Zealand next week, he is seen as a leading contender.

A 272-ball marathon with three lives

Konstas faced 272 balls and hit 18 boundaries in the longest innings of his first-class career. He was caught on 14, only for bowler Wes Agar to be called for a no-ball; he was dropped by Jason Sangha at first slip on 69; and he survived a close caught-behind appeal on Friday morning. Cricket Australia noted it was his second century of this Shield season and his sixth first-class hundred before turning 22.

Chappell: a Test return is inevitable

Former Australia captain and selector Greg Chappell said after play that he had always expected Konstas to fight his way back. “It was inevitable,” Chappell said. Dropped by the national selectors last July, Konstas has scored 71, 151 not out, 5, 2, 24 and 173 in six Shield innings this season, plus 149 in a one-day match, and now leads the competition with 426 runs at an average of 85.20. In his first stint as a Test opener he scored 163 runs at 16.3; he said this week that, after a year of work, his game has changed tactically, technically and mentally, and he wants to return to the national side a more complete player.

South Australia need 240 more; squad named next week

In the match, New South Wales made 204 and 410; South Australia made 325 and closed on 50 for 2 in their second innings, needing 240 more runs to win. Australia's four-Test series against New Zealand begins in Perth on December 9, and chair of selectors George Bailey has confirmed that Marnus Labuschagne will not be considered for the four matches, leaving the vacant batting place the biggest question of the summer. (Sources: ESPNcricinfo; Cricket Australia; AAP; Fox Sports.)