In test cricket, as in business, we often mistake tradition for truth. When 19-year-old Sam Konstas stepped onto the hallowed ground of the MCG for Boxing Day Australia-India test match, he didn’t just face the world’s deadliest bowlers – he faced the weight of convention itself.
His response?
A masterclass in balancing audacity with preparation that holds lessons for every business leader.
Let’s unpack that for a moment.
The Setup: More Than Just Another Test Match
The context was enough to make any cricket tragic nervous: fourth test, series tied one-all, Australian batting lineup not quite firing on all cylinders. Into this pressure cooker steps Konstas, all of 19 years old, ready to face his first ball in test cricket.
What happened next wasn’t just unexpected – it challenged everything we think we know about “playing it safe.”
When Innovation Rattles the Establishment
Watching from the sidelines, I felt that familiar wave of horror as Konstas unleashed a reverse shot against elite bowling. Not once, but twice.
This wasn’t just unconventional – in test cricket terms, it was practically heretical. The kind of shot you’d expect in Twenty20, not in the lengthy chess game that is test cricket.
The Indian team’s reaction was telling. Complete dismay. So much so, Virat Kohli even attempted physical intimidation between overs.
It’s a reaction familiar to anyone who’s ever challenged industry conventions: first disbelief, then dismissal, and finally – when the approach proves effective – desperate attempts to restore the status quo.
But here’s the thing – Konstas wasn’t actually breaking any rules. He was simply questioning which traditions were fundamental and which were simply… well, traditional.
The Wisdom of Prepared Audacity
Now, before we get too carried away with this tale of youthful rebellion, there’s an important detail we need to unpack.
Konstas hadn’t just walked out there and started swinging for the fences. He’d worked with mentors, including Shane Watson, developing his approach. He’d done the preparation, understood the fundamentals, and then – crucially – made them his own.
This wasn’t reckless innovation; it was calculated disruption.
The Moment of Truth
“I can’t wait for Jasprit Bumrah to come on again,” Konstas said after reaching his fifty.
If that bold taunting of the world’s best bowler doesn’t encapsulate the mindset we need in business, I’m not sure what does.
It’s not about being fearless – it’s about being prepared enough to welcome challenges rather than avoid them.
The Business End of the Innovation Innings
So what does all this mean for those of us not facing fast bowlers on a cricket pitch?
Well, it’s about understanding that innovation doesn’t mean abandoning everything that came before. It means knowing which principles are timeless and which methods are ripe for reinvention.
Here are the key questions every business leader should be asking themselves:
- What “reverse shots” exist in your industry that everyone assumes are too risky?
- Who are your Shane Watsons – mentors who can help you innovate safely?
- Which aspects of your workflow exist purely from tradition rather than necessity?
- How can you build support systems that enable bold moves?
- What would it look like to actively seek out your industry’s “best bowlers”?
The Follow-Through
Innovation in business, like cricket, isn’t just about the bold shots – it’s about knowing when to play them.
Konstas didn’t abandon test cricket’s fundamentals; he reimagined how to honor them. And therein lies perhaps the most valuable lesson: true innovation isn’t about replacing tradition – it’s about evolving it.
The next time you’re facing your own version of a fierce Indian bowling attack, remember young Konstas.
Remember that somewhere between tradition and innovation lies the sweet spot where magic happens.
And remember that even the most unorthodox approach can work wonders when it’s backed by preparation, supported by mentorship, and delivered with conviction.
After all, in business as in cricket, it’s not just about surviving – it’s about changing the game.