SL vs AUS 2025: Michael Clarke gives advice to youngster Sam Konstas to tackle spin in subcontinent

Former Australia cricketer Michael Clarke recently came forward and provided some advice to youngster Sam Konstas. Just 19 years old, Sam Konstas managed to make several heads turn in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. Recently, Clarke was unveiled as the 64th inductee into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame. 

After being inducted, Clarke had some words of advice for Konstas. According to Clarke, the Australian team should stop tinkering with the batting order which helped them win matches against India in MCG and the SCG. 

"I think he (Konstas) would be happy to play. I don't think we need too much (change) in terms of structure. We've just come off a win. Conditions are very different but Trav has been extraordinary through the middle order. The other thing is I don't think it's going to matter. If you're going to open the batting, you're going to start against spin. If you bat five, you're going to walk in against spin,” Clarke was quoted as saying by NDTV.

"Get used to facing spin bowling because you'll get two Test matches of it. Sam's an enormous talent and I think Australian cricket continues to produce young, talented players in men's and women's cricket. You learn so many things by having good senior players around you. Sam is one of the examples where he's lucky to have these senior players around him," he added.

He's so important for us over there: Clarke

Furthermore, Michael Clarke heaped praise on veteran batter Steve Smith. It is worth noting that Clarke was the last Australian skipper to win a Test series for them in Sri Lanka, and he opined that having a fit Steve Smith could be key for the Aussies in the upcoming tour. 

“He's so important for us over there in those conditions with the way he plays spin and his knowledge of the game. I assume Australia will play at least two spinners. I'd be surprised if Sri Lanka played more than two quicks,” he said.