The New South Wales openers, Sam Konstas and Nic Maddinson, launched a blistering start in the Sheffield Shield match against Victoria at the SCG, playing some audacious shots in the opening two overs.
The pair accumulated 30 runs in the first two overs, with Konstas scoring 10 off Scott Boland and Maddinson hitting 20 from Fergus O’Neill. However, Konstas was dismissed while attempting a sweep shot against Boland on the 13th ball of the match.
“It was unexplainable really. I don’t know what was going on,” said Phil Jaques, former NSW coach and Test opener, on commentary after Konstas’ dismissal. Konstas, who had a modest 3 and 22 in his last match against Queensland after returning early from the Sri Lanka tour, started his innings with a streaky leading edge off Boland’s first delivery, which flew through point.
On the second ball, he played a reverse scoop, reminiscent of a shot he played against Jasprit Bumrah earlier in the season, sending the ball over the slips to deep third. The next ball saw him use his feet to drive past a diving mid-off, before attempting another reverse scoop, which he missed.
The over concluded with two dot balls, including a more conventional push into the covers on the final delivery. Then it was Maddinson’s turn. His intent was clear from the very first ball as he advanced at O’Neill, but was beaten while attempting to work the ball through the leg side towards the short boundary.
Konstas! Second ball of the match! 😱
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) February 17, 2025
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New South Wales Openers’ Aggressive Start in Sheffield Shield Match
The next delivery saw some fortune for Maddinson, who edged the ball through the cordon. However, his next shot left no doubt—he used his feet to drive O’Neill straight down the ground. Maddinson then shifted gears, aiming for the short boundary over mid-on, launching a full delivery into the seats. By the midpoint of the second over, Victoria’s captain, Will Sutherland, placed a long-on fielder in response. But Maddinson continued his assault, staying in the crease to whip a delivery from outside off just past the fielder on the rope.
The focus then returned to Boland vs Konstas, and the anticipation was high. Boland bowled fuller, and Konstas moved across his stumps for a sweep shot, missed, and was bowled out. Konstas’ approach has been a subject of debate throughout the season, and this dismissal added to the conversation.
Phil Jaques, former NSW coach and Test opener, commented, “I think the reverse ramp is a shot he practices a lot and plays well in short-form cricket. He sees an opportunity with the new ball to take a bowler off his length and force a field change. But now, he’s playing it often, getting out with it, and losing the consistency that made him successful—batting normally, patiently. Historically, he’s made hundreds by playing traditional shots, not by scooping and slogging. It seems like he’s caught up in trying to play more aggressively.”
“If he wants to be that player who dominates them [the bowlers] and gets rid of an opening bowler in their most threatening time, and he’s happy to have dismissals like today, then carry on. But if you are looking to be a consistent Test batsman who averages 50 the don’t know you can do that playing the way he is at the minute.”
“Looking from outside and seeing Sam play a lot over the last few years…it’s such a different method that we’ve seen for years and years in Test and first-class cricket, he’s playing a different way, but it’s also a different way to how he got to where he got to so it’s a left of centre idea. He might prove everyone wrong. He might be consistent doing what he’s doing, scoring at a rate that no one has ever done, but it just seems high risk.”
2.1 overs, 30 for 1, and everyone took a deep breath.