Former Australian Test cricketer Greg Blewett has pinpointed a technical issue in Sam Konstas’ footwork following his dismissal for a duck during the second Test against the West Indies. This dismissal marked Konstas’ second consecutive low score, as he similarly fell victim to a wide delivery that he dragged onto his stumps in both innings of the series.
In Bridgetown, it was Shamar Joseph who took his wicket, while in St. George’s, Jayden Seales achieved the same feat. Disappointed, Konstas left the field shaking his head.
Commenting on the situation for ESPN, Blewett highlighted that Konstas appears to be struggling with his balance, which is evident in his foot positioning after playing the ill-fated shot. He observed, “From a technical perspective, it seems there have been several balance issues.” Blewett explained that when Konstas played the shot, his feet were not firmly planted and he was “throwing his hands at the ball.” This suggests a lack of stability which could lead to further dismissals.
Despite showing promise at the end of the previous home summer against India, where he displayed a robust batting technique, Konstas now seems to be reverting to less effective habits, creating the need for continuous adjustments to his stance. Blewett noted that Konstas had made changes to his front foot positioning, angling it towards the bowler to enhance his forward movement, but this shift may have disrupted his balance.
Additionally, the Australian batting line-up faced other challenges, with Usman Khawaja also dismissed for a mere 2 runs, marking his third lbw dismissal in this series. All instances replicated the same pattern—failing to connect with a straight delivery from a right-arm fast bowler.
As it stands, Australia heads into day three with a precarious 45-run lead, resuming play at 2-12. Night watchman Nathan Lyon is currently on 2 runs, alongside Cameron Green, who has 6. The team’s performance remains under scrutiny as they attempt to consolidate their position in the test match against the Windies.