India’s Virat Kohli, talks to Australia’s Sam Konstas, second left, as Australia’s Usman Khawaja, right, looks on during play on the first day of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia. (AP)
One thing is clear, already. Several ‘I was there’ accounts, television specials, and newspaper features will be done on Sam Konstas’s Test debut on Boxing Day in Melbourne. The Greek origin-boy with a pencil-thin moustache and a bush of hair peeping out from his helmet, smashed the Indians, stared at their bowlers, stood up to Virat Kohli, and didn’t take one back step. He lap-scooped, reverse-lapped Bumrah, he backed away to smash Mohammad Siraj en route to a thrill-a-ball half century. He lap-scooped, reverse-lapped Bumrah, he backed away to smash Mohammad Siraj en route to a thrill-a-ball half century. He was eventually dismissed LBW by Ravindra Jadeja for a memorable 65-ball 60.
Everybody knew how Konstas was going to bat on his debut. He himself had announced it: see ball, hit ball. The question was would he walk that talk in front of nearly 90,000 spectators? He ran out to the middle, after punching the gloves of his opening partner Usman Khawaja, all the way from the boundary to the pitch. He tapped the middle of the pitch, had a chat with the umpire, awaited the entry of Khawaja, who had chosen to walk slowly. Another punch of gloves, and Sam moved to the other end – from where Jasprit Bumrah was about to bowl the first ball of the MCG Test. Konstas had already spoken about Bumrah before the game that he has a plan for the world’s best bowler.
Australia’s Sam Konstas bats during play on the first day of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia. (AP)
It wasn’t evident in the first over when Bumrah kept shaping the ball away late, teasing the outside edge. Four balls almost collided with the bat corners. He couldn’t quite middle the ball as well before a release of pressure came from a bunted single to the on side.
Sam Konstas taps the Australian crest as he makes a remarkable 50 on debut! #AUSvIND | #MilestoneMoment | @nrmainsurance pic.twitter.com/y1tp4rT9qG
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 26, 2024
Konstas likes to stare back at the bowler, irrespective of whether there is stare back or not. A cute shtick of a 19-year-old who has grown up watching cricket. Couple of times, Bumrah had almost a smirk as he looked across. Then came the moment everyone in the crowd was waiting.
Konstas moved his right leg towards leg side, and shimmying it back towards off again. The tour game in Canberra would have told the Indians that’s the signal he gives for the lap-scoops. He would miss a couple of attempts as the ball settled into the keeper’s hands. The first time he did that there was almost a nervous laughter around the stands. Soon, he charged out, but missed again. KL Rahul from third slip would walk a touch ahead towards him; Konstas was on his square-leg walk where he stopped, looked at the skies, opened his eyes wide, almost taking in the sunlight and adjusting to it.
Australia’s Sam Konstas watches the ball after playing shot during play on the first day of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia. (AP)
Then came the 7th over of the day. Konstas scooped the first ball from Bumrah to fine-leg boundary. Bumrah hurled the next one fuller and just outside off; that was reverse-scooped for a six over third man. He charged out the next ball, but missed. The fifth ball was lapped over to third man for a four, and Rohit signalled to Rahul who had run over to retrieve the ball to stay put there.
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
Now the Indians were beginning to get more into the act. Siraj with a word or two, Kohli with a stare as he walked past the stumps, and once Konstas backed away to crash a four, he almost ran down, staring at Siraj. The umpire intervened quickly and had a word with Konstas.
Kohli vs Konstas
Then came the Kohli vs Konstas moment in the 10th over. The over had ended and Kohli had the ball. He was, say, at short leg at the other end, Konstas had run across to the opposite end. Kohli cut across a bit to his right and began his walk beside the pitch. Konstas too had cut across a tad to his right and began walking. The two stars were set to collide unless one of them pulled out. Neither did. Bang. Shoulder-barge.
Virat Kohli and Sam Konstas exchanged a heated moment on the MCG. #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/QL13nZ9IGI
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 26, 2024
Kohli stopped and turned. So did Konstas. Words flew. Usman Khawaja entered the crime scene with a smile, put his arms around Kohli’s shoulder. The umpire was there too.
Next ball, first ball of a new over from Bumrah, Konstas backed away outside leg to smash a four to long-off. The camera zoomed into the clenched jaw of Kohli.
Konstas made Indians forget to target his one weakness that everyone in the Australian cricketing circuit knows. The incoming ball. Not only has Scott Boland and others taken him out in first-class cricket, but even a couple of days before this Test, Sean Abbot rattled his stumps with that nip-backer. And hit him on the pads a few times.
That’s the effect an adventurous, dopamine-fuelled teenager can have on the opponents. Red mist can swoop in instead of them remaining calm and calculating. The crowd were fully into it by now as the most awaited Australian debut in recent times was turning into the most exciting debut by any cricketer anywhere in the world in recent memory.
© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd
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