“Baby in the backyard…”: Pat Cummins’ hilarious advice to 19-year-old debutant Sam Constas

Ahead of the fourth Test against India, Australian captain Pat Cummins had a special message for 19-year-old debutant Sam Contas, urging the batter to enjoy playing the Boxing Day Test and not think too much about it. ICC U19 World Cup-winning star Constas, who has created a big buzz for himself after a string of strong performances at home level for New South Wales (NSW), will get a chance to live up to it when he takes on an Indian attack led by a world-class Jasprit Bumrah , will no doubt be keen to do better and take a 2-1 lead after drawing the third Test in Brisbane from an almost winless position. Speaking during the pre-match press conference as quoted by cricket.com.au, Cummins recalled his international debut in November 2011 against South Africa, in which he took seven wickets in both innings, including a six-wicket haul. Cummins said even he was as excited as Constas was before his debut. He also said there is a “level of naivety” when players start out as they want to play the game as if it is “backyard” cricket.

“It was just amazing. I spent some time wondering why and how I ended up there and how it happened so quickly. I just remember being really excited,” Cummins said.

“I think it’s similar to Sammy (Constas) this week. There’s this level of naivety that you just want to go out and play like you do when you’re a kid in the backyard. You just want to start the game, have fun and don’t think about it.”

“This is a message to Sam. This is exactly how I felt when I was 18 years old. I was very excited and as soon as the game started you went into game mode and it was like any other game,” he concluded. his point.

The Aussie captain also humorously recalled how, at 18, he felt he had more leeway in case of poor performances and it was the selector’s fault for selecting him at such a young age.

“I remember when I was 18, I was like, ‘I have a lot more leeway because I was young’ – almost publicly – so I almost felt like if I didn’t have a great game, it wasn’t for me. the fault is the fault of the breeders who chose me,” he said.

“I thought, ‘Well, these are idiots who chose an 18-year-old!’ You’re so young starting your career – today is Boxing Day, it doesn’t get any better than that, so just enjoy the moment,” he concluded.

Constas played a vital role in Australia’s triumph at the 2024 ICC U19 World Cup, scoring 191 runs in seven innings at an average of 27.28, including a century. He also featured in the two-match series between Australia A and India A before the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, scoring 92 runs in four innings while taking a match-winning 73*. In the warm-up match against India, he asserted his authority by scoring 107 off 97 balls against a formidable Indian attack.

In the current Sheffield Shield season, Constas is the fifth highest run-getter with 471 runs from five matches at an average of 58.87, including two centuries and a fifty, with a best of 152.

Australia XI for the fourth Test: Usman Khawaja, Sam Constas, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Mitch Marsh, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland.