**Sam Konstas Falters in Sheffield Shield Ahead of Ashes**
*By Gaurav Tripathi | Oct 04, 2025, 09:17 AM*
Sam Konstas’s bid for an Ashes call-up got off to a disappointing start as he was dismissed for just four runs on the first day of New South Wales’s Sheffield Shield match against Western Australia in Perth. The 20-year-old right-hander fell to left-arm seamer Joel Paris, who trapped him in front of the stumps with a swinging delivery, leaving NSW struggling at 1-9.
### Tough Opening Day for Konstas
The match at the WACA proved challenging for Konstas. Despite his low score, he survived two close LBW appeals and a dropped catch. Wicketkeeper Joel Curtis missed a difficult one-handed catch off Konstas’s inside edge, offering him some reprieve.
With the Ashes on the horizon, Konstas will need to make a significant impact in the coming matches to retain his opening spot in the longest format. Notably, he recently registered a First-Class hundred in India, showcasing his potential.
### Konstas’s Test Record
Konstas made an impressive debut in the 2024 Boxing Day Test against India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). The young batsman scored a brisk 60 off 65 balls in his maiden outing, skillfully facing top bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj. However, since that debut innings, Konstas has struggled to reach 30 runs in his subsequent nine innings.
His overall Test statistics stand at 163 runs from five Tests, with an average of 16.30.
### Jake Weatherald Shines for Tasmania
Meanwhile, Tasmanian opener Jake Weatherald kicked off his summer on a high note, scoring an impressive 67 runs off 99 balls against Queensland at Brisbane’s Allan Border Field. Despite Tasmania’s early setbacks at 3-33 in the 12th over, Weatherald steadied the innings alongside captain Jordan Silk. The pair shared an 80-run partnership for the fourth wicket.
Weatherald reached his half-century in 81 balls but was eventually dismissed by experienced pacer Michael Neser. Since last summer, Weatherald has maintained a strong first-class average of 57.62 for Tasmania and Australia, making him a compelling candidate for a Test call-up.
### Other Notable Performances
In other Sheffield Shield action, Tigers all-rounder Beau Webster missed the red-ball match due to a minor ankle injury. At the Adelaide Oval, South Australian opener Nathan McSweeney struggled, being dismissed for a duck off just 21 balls by Victorian pacer Mitchell Perry, who caused significant damage to the hosts’ batting lineup.
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As the domestic season progresses, players like Konstas and Weatherald will be under the microscope, vying to cement their places ahead of the upcoming Ashes series.
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