‘Have fun, don’t overthink’ – Pat Cummins’ message for young Sam Konstas

Pat Cummins.(Photo Source – Twitter/X)

Australia and India are all set to take on each other in the fourth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 as the two sides will lock horns at the MCG from December 26. With Australia having announced their playing XI, it is confirmed that youngster Sam Konstas will be making his debut.

Konstas will be replacing Nathan McSweeney in the lineup, who has been dropped after a string of low scores. Ahead of his debut, Australia skipper Pat Cummins has given him a piece of advice. Cummins also reflected on his debut back in 2011 and revealed that he was just as excited as Konstas is now.

“It was pretty awesome. I spent a bit of the time wondering why, or how, I was there and how it happened so quickly. I just remember being really excited,” Cummins was quoted as saying by NDTV.

“I think it is similar to Sammy (Konstas) this week. There is a level of naivety that you just want to go out and play like you do when you are a kid in the backyard. You just want to take the game on, have fun, and not overthink it. That is the message to Sam. That is definitely how I felt as an 18-year-old. I was just really excited, and once the game started, you go into game mode and it’s just like any other game,” he added.

It is Boxing Day, it does not get any better than this: Cummins

Cummins shared an anecdote and revealed what was his thought process as an 18-year-old. He said that at the time he used to believe that he had more leeway within the team if he did not perform well.

“I remember as an 18-year-old I was thinking, ‘I have got a lot more leeway because I was young’ – almost publicly – so I almost felt like, if I did not have a great game, it was not my fault – it was the selectors’ fault for picking me. I was like, ‘well, they’re the idiots that picked an 18-year-old!’ You are so young starting out your career – it is Boxing Day, it does not get any better than this. So just enjoy the moment,” Cummins said.

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