In the Boxing Day Test match against India at the storied Melbourne Cricket Ground, Sam Konstas made his debut for his country. Although he was part of the plan, Australia first used Nathan McSweeney in the starting lineup before switching to Konstas, who had an extremely strong fourth Test at the top of the order. When he hit Jasprit Bumrah for 14 runs in the seventh over of the match, the 19-year-old appeared unflappable and showed no signs of struggling.
On two separate occasions, the child tried to play reverse scoops against Bumrah but was unable to time it. He was commended for having the audacity to try such a shot against the top Indian pacer, but the commentators reminded former cricket player Adam Gilchrist of the consequences following his second unsuccessful attempt. The situation changed in the seventh over, though, as Konstas was unwilling to alter his strategy and tried more reverse scoops.
Watch the video below:
A bit of audacity!
Smiles everywhere as the 19-year-old Sam Konstas attempted to ramp Jasprit Bumrah very early in his debut 👀#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/9I9urUnmuq
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 25, 2024
Rohit Sharma, the captain, was late in putting a fielder in the third man area, and Bumrah, who had looked outstanding in the first few overs, was hit in the same area. In the second and last deliveries of the seventh over, Konstas picked up a six and a boundary, respectively, after first playing a traditional scoop over keeper Rishabh Pant to reach a boundary.
However, in the current Border-Gavaskar Trophy, India’s standout bowler Jasprit Bumrah has proven reliable with the ball. However, Australian rookie Sam Konstas’s boundaries gave up 18 runs from Bumrah’s over in the opening session of Day 1 of the fourth Test, which is the most runs ever scored in a pacer’s over in Test cricket.
Watch the video of Sam Konstas hitting Bumrah for a six below:
WHAT ARE WE SEEING!
Sam Konstas just whipped Jasprit Bumrah for six 😱#AUSvIND | #PlayOfTheDay | @nrmainsurance pic.twitter.com/ZuNdtCncLO
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 26, 2024
In the eleventh over, Konstas hammered 18 runs against Bumrah, seemingly in no mood to slow down. After Rohit replaced Bumrah with Akash Deep, he hit a few of boundaries and a six in the over. In the meantime, the pacer gave up 38 runs throughout his first six overs. The 31-year-old took eight wickets and let up just 54 runs in his opening periods in the first three Test matches, so it is quite costly.
Meanwhile, Usman Khawaja, the senior batsman, appeared to be in terrific form, while Konstas reached his half-century in fifty-two deliveries. Although Australia controlled the morning session, the visitors will be hoping to get back into the match by taking a wicket or two before lunch on Day 1.
India
