Rising star Sam Konstas is now a 'lock' to keep plundering runs for the Sydney Thunder following a stunning Big Bash debut against the Adelaide Strikers in Canberra on Tuesday night. Incredibly, the 19-year-old only opened the batting alongside captain David Warner due to an injury to Nic Maddinson.
![[Konstas smashed the fastest 50 in Thunder history - off just 20 balls - in what was an eye-catching performance]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/18/03/93259071-14204039-image-a-45_1734493530422.jpg)
Konstas seized his moment, smashing the fastest 50 in Thunder history - off just 20 balls - in what was an eye-catching BBL debut. Despite his plethora of red-ball runs this summer, including centuries for NSW and the PM's XI against India, Konstas wasn't going to be the first choice opener for the Thunder.
![[The teenager now has 736 runs this summer across the Sheffield Shield, One-Day Cup, Australia A and BBL along with his 107 for the Prime Minister's XI (pictured, after his half century at Manuka Oval)]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/18/03/93259085-14204039-image-a-46_1734493561011.jpg)
Instead it was veteran Maddinson - at his fourth BBL club - who was initially going to face the white ball with Warner. Maddinson is out with a finger injury, and Warner declared Konstas was a 'lock' in the XI for the Sydney derby this weekend against the Sixers.
Sam Konstas is now a 'lock' to keep plundering runs for the Sydney Thunder after a stunning Big Bash debut against the Adelaide Strikers (pictured, with captain David Warner). Konstas smashed the fastest 50 in Thunder history - off just 20 balls - in what was an eye-catching performance.
The teenager now has 736 runs this summer across the Sheffield Shield, One-Day Cup, Australia A and BBL along with his 107 for the Prime Minister's XI (pictured, after his half century at Manuka Oval). 'I was really nervous. It's pretty surreal,' Konstas said after finishing with 56 off just 27 balls in front of his family at Manuka Oval.
