Never before has an Australia A match starting in October generated so much selection debate ahead of a summer of Test cricket.

Former Australia Test opener Ed Cowan best summed up the state of play this week on the ABC’s Grandstand Cricket Podcast.

“This is a huge two weeks,” Cowan said. “Make no mistake about it. Go for it fellas. May the best person win.”

The Australia A and India A fixture this week, beginning on Thursday morning at 11am (AEDT) in Mackay, is significant in the battle to find David Warner’s replacement at the top of the batting order for a five-Test series against India.

Another four-day Australia A match takes place on November 7 at the MCG. Coach Andrew McDonald said selectors won’t finalise the Test squad until after that game.

But it is the upcoming game that holds the most weight.

“Form will always dictate decisions when there’s not a frontrunner,” said Australian opening great Matt Hayden.

Let’s run our eye over what’s at stake for those in Mackay.

Sam Konstas raises the bat in the Sheffield Shield.Credit: Getty Images

At the start of this month, Sam Konstas’ name was not in the conversation when it came to Test calculations.

By the end of the last Sheffield Shield season, Konstas was 64th on the run-scorers list. His 155 runs from six innings at an average of 25.83 did not reflect the teenager’s talent.

The Blues opener’s twin centuries against South Australia (152 and 105) in early October made people sit up and take notice of the 19-year-old with a terrific technique. Some closely involved in the game wanted Konstas thrown straight into the Test........

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