Under the pink-ball glow at Manuka Oval, 20-year-old Sam Konstas delivered one of the funniest moments of the Australian summer. The New South Wales opener- handed the ball for the very first time in professional cricket during the Prime Minister’s XI warm-up match against England, sent down a waist-high full toss with his debut delivery. England opener Emilio Gay wasted no invitation, swatting it to the boundary as teammate Doug Warren attempted a desperate, sliding stop that only added to the comedy.

Konstas, who earlier crafted a steady 36 off 53 balls, hadn’t bowled since his junior days as a leg-spinner. Now a top-order dasher with only part-time off-spin in his locker, his sudden introduction with the ball was unexpected, and the outcome even more so. The clip, posted by cricket.com.au, quickly went viral, drawing over 170k views and a mix of sympathy and playful mockery online. As one commentator joked, “That’s one way to announce yourself!”

watch the video:

Sam Konstas' first ball in professional cricket went as you'd expect 🫣 #PMXIvENG pic.twitter.com/kdQRwDWxOG

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 30, 2025

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From Sheffield Shield prodigy to bowling blooper, Konstas delivers a moment to remember

Despite the mishap, Konstas is no stranger to pressure. Born in Kogarah and mentored by Shane Watson, he has risen rapidly over the past 18 months. In October 2024, he became the youngest player since Ricky Ponting to score twin Sheffield Shield centuries, before blasting 107 off 97 balls against India in last year’s PM’s XI. His fearless Test debut on Boxing Day 2024 - 60 off 52 against Jasprit Bumrah, cemented him as one of Australia’s brightest batting prospects.

The two-day fixture, England’s lone tune-up before the Gabba Test, saw the PM’s XI declare at 308-8, thanks to Campbell Kellaway’s 82, Nathan McSweeney’s 63, and Ollie Peake’s 54. England closed the day on 30-0, trailing by 278.

For Konstas, the over that went for 10 runs will likely remain nothing more than a light-hearted footnote. Australia’s selectors still view him as a long-term attacking option at the top, proof that in cricket, even a comical first ball doesn’t derail a rising career. After all, every great story starts with a wobble.