It then came to light hours before the toss of the coin on Wednesday afternoon that selectors have made the call to hand Josh Inglis his Test debut — at Konstas’ expense. Inglis has been called in to bat in the middle order and it is a decision that Bharat Sundaresan suggested had been the plan all week.

Former Aussie captain Ricky Ponting has taken aim at the selectors for dropping Sam Konstas for Josh Inglis having claimed he needs more time out in the middle before the Test Championship final. Konstas won over Australian fans during the MCG Test against India having attacked Jasprit Bumrah like no batter has before in red-ball cricket.

Australia dropped Sam Konstas as Travis Head opened the innings in the first Test vs Sri Lanka in Galle. It was a massive call from them even as Konstas has taken his axing in stride after no assurance of a place in the Test team for the Ashes during home summer.

Australian selectors have ignored the urgings of former Test captain Ricky Ponting to stick with teen star Sam Konstas in Sri Lanka, promoting Travis Head to opener for Wednesday’s first Test in Galle.

Travis Head will replace Sam Konstas as Usman Khawaja's opening partner in the first test against Sri Lanka at Galle on Wednesday, Australia's stand-in captain Steve Smith said on the eve of the match.

Australia skipper Steve Smith has confirmed that Sam Konstas will not open in the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle. Konstas started his Test career on a high putting up a decent show in two Tests against India but the 19-year-old is struggling to find a place in the playing XI.

Travis Head will replace Sam Konstas at the top of Australia’s batting order for the first Sri Lanka Test despite the teenager’s heroics in the triumphant India series. Captain Steve Smith would not rule out finding a place for Konstas elsewhere in the order for the match that begins in Galle on Wednesday, with a vacancy now open at No.5.