Sam Konstas has endured a horror trip to Perth, out cheaply for NSW a second time against Western Australia in the Sheffield Shield as he fights to return for the first Ashes Test.

After being pinned lbw by Joel Paris’ stock inswinger on day one, Konstas walked out to bat on Monday as the Blues tried to build on a narrow first innings lead in a low-scoring game.

A couple of early boundaries got Konstas away to 14 from as many balls, before he drove loosely at a length ball from the-right arm seamer Matthew Kelly and sliced a catch to Ashton Agar at point.

Fellow opener Blake Nikitaras was out soon after, leaving NSW 2-17 with an overall lead of 26.

Konstas walked off the WACA Ground with his head bowed, as other Test team contenders made runs elsewhere around the country.

Chief among

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