David Warner has urged Australia’s selectors to stick with Sam Konstas for the Ashes, wanting the young opener to be given time to find himself in Test cricket.

Konstas will on Wednesday resume the battle to keep his spot at the top of the order when NSW face a Victorian attack led by Scott Boland in the Sheffield Shield.

The opening role has been an issue for selectors since Warner’s retirement in January 2024, with five separate men partnering Usman Khawaja in the 15 Tests.

Marnus Labuschagne has emerged as the front-runner to take on the role this summer, after three centuries in four games for Queensland across all formats.

But while Warner does believe Labuschagne should be back in Australia’s team, the 112-Test veteran feels the Queenslander’s best position is at No.3 for the summer.

That would require Cameron Green returning into the middle order, while also leaving selectors with a decision to make at the top for the first Test against England in Perth starting November 21.

“I’d like them to try and probably stick with Sam and give him a crack,” Warner said at the Fox Cricket launch on Monday.

“He scored that hundred in the Australian A series (in India last month). He batted outstanding there.

“I don’t think we’ve seen exactly what we know Sam Konstas can do.

“Last year coming out, he probably got overwhelmed by the occasion and we saw some very highlighted cricket.

“But I’ve seen him build innings, I’ve seen him play some fantastic innings and I’d like to see him go back to just doing that.”

If anyone can speak to the battle Konstas is facing, it’s Warner.

He himself became an overnight sensation for Australia in T20s with his debut in 2009, before making his Test debut almost three years later.

Konstas captured headlines last year with a flurry of scoop shots aimed at unsettling Jasprit Bumrah, on his way to 60.

But the 20-year-old but has struggled to find balance in his four Tests since, with no score over 25.

“Last year I felt like he just got caught up in the occasions,” Warner said of his Sydney Thunder teammate.

“He got caught up in thinking that it was the only way to play that way against Jasprit Bumrah and then did it to the other players.

“I don’t think he needed to change his game to the other bowlers.

“I’ve seen him build innings, I’ve seen him play some fantastic innings and I’d like to see him go back to just doing that.”

Warner believes the 39-year-old Khawaja will play a key part in that for Konstas, as calm head at the other end in what may be his last summer.

“Uzi used to do that to me all the time,” Warner said.

“You learn that with batting with someone, that’s a partnership.

“That’s where I think you need to keep that stability there. And if he does stay there, they’ll work very well together.”

Source: AAP