Haddin wants Australian selectors to realease Konstas from Test squad
What's the story
Former Australian cricketer Brad Haddin has advised the national team's selectors to send Sam Konstas back home to play state cricket.
This is if Konstas isn't picked in the playing XI for the second Test against Sri Lanka.
Despite an impressive Test debut against India, Konstas was benched for the first of two Tests in Galle to make way for Travis Head's promotion.
Notably, Australia hammered Sri Lanka by an innings and 242 runs.
Future outlook
Haddin's perspective on Konstas's future prospects
Haddin expects Konstas to be picked for the World Test Championship final against South Africa in June.
However, he was concerned about how much cricket Konstas will get to play before that.
"We've got to remember he's (Konstas) 19 so if they're not using him for the second Test I would send him home to play state cricket, he hasn't played a lot and the more he plays the better," Haddin said as quoted by Fox Sports.
Team dynamics
Haddin's take on Konstas's exclusion from the team
Haddin spoke about Konstas' omission, and stated, "I think he's been left out of the side because Australia had a plan a long time ago of how they wanted to play in Sri Lanka."
He lauded the way Head and Usman Khawaja performed at the top, hinting that Konstas could be back for the Test Championship.
"He's come out of nowhere in the last six months because he's such a high-quality player and is still learning the game," Haddin said.
Match recap
Australia's victory in the 1st Test
As mentioned, Australia have taken a 1-0 lead in the Warne-Muralitharan Trophy after their innings and 242-run win over Sri Lanka in the first Test.
This win emphasizes the strength of Australia's cricket team, even without Konstas in the team, where stand-in skipper Steve Smith and debutant Josh Inglis delivered a stellar ton.
Meanwhile, Haddin's remarks open a wider debate on player development and selection strategies in Australian cricket.
Stats
Konstas's First-Class and Test numbers
Konstas has played 13 First-Class matches, scoring 831 runs at an average of 39.57. He also owns four fifties and two hundreds, according to ESPNcricinfo.
Meanwhile, 113 of his 831 runs have been scored for Australia, while averaging 28.25 in the two Tests he has played.
Notably, he also boasts a Test fifty from his debut innings in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.