WTC Final: Pat Cummins reveals the reason behind Sam Konstas’ exclusion from the XI vs SA

Australian Test captain Pat Cummins has revealed the reason behind the 19-year-old top-order batter Sam Konstas being excluded from the playing XI for the World Test Championship 2025 Final against South Africa, scheduled to start on Wednesday, June 11, at Lord’s in London.

Notably, Konstas, who had a decent Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 season for Australia, has made way for Marnus Labuschagne, who is all set to open the innings alongside Usman Khawaja, the regular opener.

"It's something the selectors are always weighing up (On Konstas getting ample opportunities). Realistically, he's really young and has a long career ahead of him. So hopefully, even if he's not playing, being in the squad is a learning opportunity. At the same time, you've got guys like Bo Webster who are just starting their Test careers," Cummins said.

"Obviously, Cam Green comes back in, and Josh (Inglis) has a chance to begin his Test career as well. I think it's a good problem to have—three or four guys who are all right on the fringe, on the cusp of getting a good run in Test cricket," he added.

It’s important to note that Konstas made his debut at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne against India in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, scoring 60 runs in his first Test innings. Later, he scored 23 and 22 at the SCG in Sydney.

He caught the limelight after exchanging a few words against the Indian pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah in the above-mentioned series. However, since then, Konstas wasn’t a regular member of the playing XI.

Australia’s playing XI for WTC Final vs South Africa:

Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Beau Webster, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.

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