Sam Konstas has been excluded from the Australian squad during the Sri Lanka Tour and set to play in Sheffield Shield game

Australia cricketer Sam Konstas has left the ongoing Sri Lanka Test tour midway to play the Sheffield Shield for New South Wales. Although he had a promising debut against India in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Konstas was left out due to his inexperience on spin-friendly Asian pitches.

Konstas, who made headlines with his unorthodox shots on debut against a Jasprit Bumrah-led Indian pace bowling attack in Melbourne last December, returned to the hotel after Australia's training sess

The Australian selectors "have chosen to send Sam Konstas home early so he can play" in the first round of Shield games

It then came to light hours before the toss of the coin on Wednesday afternoon that selectors have made the call to hand Josh Inglis his Test debut — at Konstas’ expense. Inglis has been called in to bat in the middle order and it is a decision that Bharat Sundaresan suggested had been the plan all week.

Despite an impressive first two Tests and being replaced at the top of the batting order by Travis Head in the series opener in Galle, the young opener is heading home to play Sheffield Shield cricket for NSW.

Sam Konstas' Sri Lanka tour is officially over with the teenage star returning to Australia to play Sheffield Shield cricket for New South Wales. Despite an impressive first two Tests, Konstas was replaced at the top of the batting order by the more experienced Travis Head in last week's series opener in Galle.