Umpire Sharfuddoula Saikat, centre, gestures to India’s Jasprit Bumrah, right, as he exchanges words with Australia’s Sam Konstas, left, during play on the first day of the fifth cricket test between India and Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground, in Sydney, Australia, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
New South Wales coach Greg Shipperd didn’t hold back against the Indian cricket team for the way they charged down to 19-year-old opener Sam Konstas in the Sydney Test.
Shipperd, who is also a mentor of Konstas said the Indian cricket team should have been punished for the way they reacted after the fall of Usman Khawaja’s wickets on Day 1 of the Sydney Test.
“I think it was a disgraceful act and should have been punished far more severely than it was,” Shipperd told SEN.
“He or the circumstance got under the skin of Jasprit, and the team response was super aggressive towards him.
“I think he’ll walk through that and look forward to his next opportunity in Sri Lanka.”
Sam Konstas had an eventful Test in Sydney and ended up with 2 wins from 2 outings. (AP)
When asked about Bumrah’s altercation with Konstas following Khawaja’s wicket, he said: “I don’t know if he thrives on it. I think it surprised him.”
Konstas won hearts and minds for his dazzling ramp shots en route to a half-century in his first Test innings at the MCG.
“You could have straight-batted and forward-defended and tried your luck that way, but that may not have worked,” Shipperd said.
“Sam has taken the really aggressive route, which was to play some shots that we would go ‘that’s T20 cricket’, but that was his form of problem solving in the moment.
“It could be described as ‘chaotic’ by a lot of people, but I think over time that we and he and the rest of the people around him will add the craftsmanship to that particular approach.
Australia’s Sam Konstas bats on the first day of the Boxing Day Test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. (AP Photo)
“We’ve started a player off and he’s going to be around for a long time. I wouldn’t have used the word ‘arrogant’ to describe him in any way, shape or form.
“He’s just a brilliant young man who is loving the game, playing the game and responding to the challenges in the moment.
“How can you criticise people who play with a smile on their face? I don’t understand that.”
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