Lucknow, Sept. 16 -- The incumbent Australia opening batter, Sam Konstas, pushed his case for inclusion in the Ashes squad with a swashbuckling century as Australia A ensured India A toiled on the opening day of the four-day fixture in Lucknow.

After winning the toss and opting to bat, the visitors got off to a rollicking start with Konstans and Victoria batter Campbell Kellaway, who is also in contention for a spot, negating the new ball threat posed by India A's experienced speedsters Prasidh Krishna and Khaleel Ahmed.

The 19-year-old Konstas, who left the 'world's best' Jasprit Bumrah bamboozled in front of a jam-packed crowd at the MCG last year, once again tormented the hosts' bowling unit and notched a fifty in 86 balls. He raced ...