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Konstas dominated Bumrah in his first inning as a Test cricketer and hammered him for four fours and two sixes during his stay at the crease on Thursday.
Sam Konstas ready for Jasprit Bumrah challenge. (Picture Credit: Screengrab, AP)
19-year-old right-handed batter Sam Konstas made his Test debut for Australia on Thursday, December 26, and in his first inning itself he broke multiple batting records. The 2024 U19 World Cup winner hammered 60 runs from 65 balls in the ongoing Boxing Day Test between India and Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, and during his stay at the crease, he also smashed six fours and two sixes. Both of his sixes came off Bumrah’s bowling, and by doing so, he became only the second player in history to score the Indian pacer for two maximums in an innings of a Test match.
Konstas’, who became the second youngest Aussie batter to score a half-century in Test cricket, crossed the 50-run mark in 52 balls, and after scoring the third fastest fifty on debut for the Baggy Greens, he opened up about his game plan against Bumrah, who looked completely off colour against him.
According to Konstas, he thought about playing the reverse scoops against the world No. 1 Test bowler during his time in the middle, and he will look to keep targeting him in the upcoming face-offs as well.
“Just when the ball was coming down. I will look to keep targeting him. Hopefully, he might come back on, but I will see what happens,” Konstas said in an interview with cricket.com.au during the drinks’ break.
Konstas, who replaced Nathan McSweeney in Australia’s playing XI for the ongoing match at MCG, added 89 runs for the first wicket with Usman Khawaja in 19.2 overs. He was sent back to the pavilion by Ravindra Jadeja on the second ball of the 20th over. Jadeja, who managed to retain his place in India’s playing XI after an ordinary show with the ball in the last match played at The Gabba, trapped him in front of the wickets.
Bumrah, who conceded 38 runs in his quota of six overs in the first spell, would like to make a comeback in the second session of the first day’s play and take multiple wickets to help India make a comeback in the match after the Aussies posted a total of 112 runs for the loss of one wicket in the morning session.
