Australian batting sensation Sam Konstas’ Sri Lanka tour is officially over, with the dangerous opener flying back to Australia to play Sheffield Shield for New South Wales. Konstas missed out on selection for the first Test against Sri Lanka, with Travis Head being preferred to open the innings alongside Usman Khawaja. 

Now once again, Konstas will miss selection for the second Test, starting on Thursday in Galle. The 19-year-old batter trained with the team on Tuesday in Galle before flying back to Australia. Recently, Konstas had a marvellous start to his career in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India. 

“That’s the plan. Hopefully, I can be back for the first game,” Konstas told Sydney Morning Herald.

“It’s been a huge honour being in the squad and learning from the likes of Travis Head, Steve Smith, Usman Khawaja, the way they go about it. And obviously having experience in the Asian continent in Dubai.

“It’s been about understanding what works in these conditions, and hopefully I can emulate that after I get back to Sydney. Understanding your strengths and trying to do it for as long as possible in these conditions.” 

Considering the conditions in the subcontinent, Australia preferred more experienced opener in Travis Head over Sam Konstas for the first Test. 

“I totally understood the decision (not to play in the first Test), Travis Head’s a legend of the game and he’s been dominating in these conditions up top,” he said.

“So for me it was trying to get exposure to Dubai, Sri Lanka, try to learn and I feel like I learned quite a bit about things if I do play in the subcontinent. That’s basically it,” he said.