Sam Konstas dominated the headlines when he made his Test debut for Australia on Boxing Day as a teenager.

And after his wild debut performance against India at the MCG, where he took down Jasprit Bumrah with a series of audacious ramps and scoops, he was hailed as the future of our Test team.

However, seeing his recent Sheffield Shield antics, especially against Victoria’s Scott Boland this week, it’s clear that things aren’t working out as expected for the 19-year-old.

On the opening day of the four-day clash at the SCG this week, he got away with a ramp shot against Boland and then tried to move around the crease and get funky, but the quality and consistency of the Test regular proved to be too much in the end.

The Blues opener ended up looking silly as he slog-swept a ball back onto his own stumps.

It shows that in the long form of the game, you have to put a price on your wicket and be accountable for your shot selection.

It’s a fascinating time in cricket, not just in Australia but around the world. The influence of T20 cricket was always going to creep into the Test and one-day formats.

My question when Konstas showed an array of T20 shots against one of the best fast bowlers, is: How long can he play like this, and can he maintain consistency?

I believe that if he can find the right balance between attacking and defending, he will indeed be a player of the future.

He is still young. When you hear your name all over the news, read it in the papers and have social media buzzing with likes and follows, it is easy for him to fall into the trap of believing the hype, rather than focusing on what he needs to do to be the best version of himself.

It makes me wonder what kind of messages batters like Konstas and Jake Fraser-McGurk are receiving.

This is when the hard work really begins. You can’t rest on being praised.

From my own experience, I remember the gracious words of Dennis Lillee, who called me “a once in a generation bowler.”

Early in my career, I often battled with my own expectations because the media jumped on those words. I sometimes thought that just because he said that, I was destined to make it.

Eventually, I realised that hard work was essential to reach the top, and I faced many failures along the way.

What helped me most was having good people around me who told me the truth. If I wasn’t putting in the necessary effort, I would be called out. While I had those who encouraged and supported me, I also had close friends who guided me in the right direction.

Ultimately, I still had to figure out for myself how I wanted to play the game. I’ve been out of the game for a while, and it’s clear that things have changed quite a bit.

It makes me wonder what kind of messages batters like Konstas and Jake Fraser-McGurk are receiving. Both of them have been in the spotlight, but now they’re facing scrutiny over their playing styles.

Are they being encouraged to just go out there and play their natural game without worrying about getting out? Or is there an emphasis on putting a high price on their wickets, taking calculated risks, and knowing when to defend?

The messaging around player development and technique fascinates me. From the outside, it looks like there’s a sense of freedom for these young talents to express themselves, but the reality is that it’s not all smooth sailing.

We’ve seen how quickly things can change. Kontas was celebrated all summer and Fraser-McGurk during last year’s Indian Premier League, but now the narrative is shifting as they’re struggling to score runs.

The pressure is definitely mounting, with fans and journalists starting to express concerns, and it feels like the same approach isn’t yielding the desired results anymore.

It raises questions about the coaching they’re receiving and whether there’s a disconnect between the aggressive, flamboyant styles championed in T20 formats and the more measured approach needed in longer formats.

If they’re not careful, that free-for-all mentality could lead to bigger issues in their development as players. Balancing flair with responsibility is crucial, and I hope they can find that equilibrium to sustain their careers.

In the end, I found cricket to be an interesting journey of many ups and downs as you try to find balance and play with some flair.

I always felt like I was learning, even when I was at my peak. There was always more to understand.

The journey feels long when you’re in it, but when you look back at life, it often seems fleeting. I truly hope players like Konstas and McGurk can figure out their games. There’s no doubt they are talented, but talent alone will only take you so far.

They have time on their side, and they will make mistakes along the way. What I hope to see is that they learn from those mistakes and hone their skills.

Cricket is a skill-based game and there are many skilled cricketers out there. However, it’s the mental aspect — the game within your head — that often determines who will rise to the top.

That’s what will make them better and sustain their careers in the long run.