England fire early warning shots in war of words ahead of Ashes next summer

Having thrown India off on his Test debut, it appears Sam Konstas is already getting under the skin of some in England who are firing barbs ahead of the Ashes next summer.

Konstas made one of the most eye-catching Test debuts in cricket history, reverse ramping and attacking his way to 60 to help Australia break the shackles Jasprit Bumrah had on them all summer.

It was a method he kept for his following three innings, however some in England believe Konstas has already reached his peak.

“There was a sense during the India series of Konstas being installed as a cricketing version of Raygun the Olympic breakdancer, a fun, gimmicky approximation of the real thing,” journalist Steve James wrote for The Times.

“This is a nation that seems convinced the future of cricket is a spunky, mulletted, wispy-moustachioed bloke who hasn’t scored any runs but whacks it in interesting ways (see also: Jake Fraser-McGurk).

“Konstas will have a long and lucrative career in the form the sport now takes. But what are the odds he has already made his highest Test score?”

James believed England already have a superior version of Konstas in Jacob Bethhell, who made his Test debut against New Zealand and finished the series with three 50s, before joining the Melbourne Renegades.

He made a whirlwind 87 against Hobart Hurricanes on Tuesday night.

That’s despite Bethell not having a first-class century to his name.

“If I were to make one bold prediction it would be that the 21-year-old Bethell, a player with flair but much solidity too, does play in the Ashes and becomes much the better Test batsman than Konstas,” wrote James.

“That might actually be two predictions, and, yes, Bethell still does not have a first-class century in comparison to Konstas’ mountain of runs, but these are very different and intriguing times in which we live.”

It comes as Piers Morgan, never afraid to make himself public enemy No.1 to Aussie fans, predicted a summer of pain for Australia.

“We’re going to beat you 5-0,” he said on Channel Nine.

“You’ve got an aging team of prima donnas who are on the way out.

“We’ve got an exciting young group and I see nothing but immeasurable pain for the Aussies as we bring home the Ashes.”