St George’s: The frustration was evident on Sam Konstas’ face as he slowly walked off the Grenada National Cricket Stadium, shaking his head after a 57-minute stay at the crease.

It was another gripping yet disappointing innings from a teenager who appears somewhat weighed down by the pressure of being Australia’s brightest young batting prospect.

West Indies’ Shamar Joseph looks on as Australia’s Sam Konstas scores off one of his deliveries during day one. Credit: AP

Konstas’ latest return of 25 from 37 balls, on a better pitch than the one that greeted Australia in Barbados, is difficult to evaluate. It was certainly not a complete failure, but it was a failure of his limited experience that he did not find a way to capitalise on seeing off the new ball.

Head selector George Bailey watched Konstas’ innings from the second-level balcony of the Devon Smith players’ pavilion.

As soon as Konstas was dismissed, head coach Andrew McDonald walked up a level to meet Bailey before settling in for a long chat. One can only wonder what they were discussing. Konstas is a complex conundrum at the moment.

This West Indies tour was supposed to be Konstas’ breakout series. It still could be, but at the halfway point, the jury is out.

The stakes are rising. Konstas’ Test career feels like a ticking clock, but is he moving fast enough?

When Australia won the toss........

© Brisbane Times