Travis Head has expressed confidence in Sam Konstas regaining his place as an opener for the World Test Championship (WTC) final against South Africa at Lord's. Despite recent performances from debutants creating a batting squeeze, Head believes Konstas' inclusion remains a strong option for Australia in the upcoming match.

Konstas made a remarkable debut against India at the MCG and was named the Bradman Young Cricketer of the Year at the Australian Cricket Awards. However, he was excluded from the opening Test against Sri Lanka in Galle, and reports suggest he will return to Australia to play Sheffield Shield cricket. The selectors opted for Head to open alongside Usman Khawaja, choosing a horses-for-courses approach, which they had planned long in advance.

Former captains Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke advocated for Konstas' retention in the Sri Lanka series, looking toward the future with the WTC final already secured. But Tony Dodemaide, selector on tour, emphasized that the trip was not focused on development.

The decision to use Head as an opener proved to be successful, with the left-handed batter scoring a quick-fire 57 off 40 balls in what became one of Australia's most dominant overseas batting displays, contributing to their highest total in Asia of 654/6. Head's success as an opener, however, may only be a viable strategy for Australia in certain subcontinental conditions, with coach Andrew McDonald indicating a different approach against South Africa.

Australia’s options were further bolstered by Josh Inglis’ stellar debut, where he scored a century off just 90 balls, and Beau Webster’s strong performance against India in Sydney. Additionally, Cameron Green is expected to be fit for the WTC final after undergoing back surgery.

"Most likely I'd go back in the middle order and Sam would open," Head commented in Galle. "But I'm glad I'm not a selector. Josh has had an amazing start, the guys are playing well, Greeny's going to be fit. So it's going to be hard to fit [them all] in. We want an Australian cricket team that's tough to get into."

Head acknowledged that Australia’s depth in talent is creating healthy competition. "We want seven or eight batters talked about, not just three or four," he added. "It's better to have that pressure of players pushing for spots. It’s great to have competition in the team."

In light of Konstas likely losing his spot, stand-in captain Steven Smith emphasized the value of the experience Konstas was gaining by being on tour, despite the possibility of not playing. Konstas, who had been ill during the first match, was back training with the squad on Tuesday.

Smith highlighted Konstas' strong debut in Melbourne, where his fearless approach to batting impressed many. "For someone to come in and take the game on the way he did in Melbourne, the confidence he's got, it's a good thing to have a young kid around who's a bit naive and just plays the game the right way. He's got a huge future for Australia," Smith remarked. "It'll just be how he deals with adversity over the years. At this stage, he looks like he deals with it really well."

Reflecting on his role in the opening Test, Head, who was named the Allan Border Medalist on Monday after an impressive 12 months, said he was satisfied with his approach to the match. "It was not by design to go out and score as quick as I did," Head explained. "If they present an opportunity to score, I want to score. I felt like I played well, I played positively, and I played what the team needed at the time."

Head admitted to taking risks during his innings, acknowledging that while it was a calculated move, the one risk he took ultimately led to his dismissal. "I felt like I was a chance, but I did flirt with danger and was out. But sometimes you’ve got to take those risks and sometimes you’ve got to try and push the game," he said.

Australia’s team selections for the WTC final will be closely watched, with competition for spots at an all-time high, but the confidence in their depth remains unwavering.