NEW DELHI: Sam Konstas‘ dazzling Test debut on Day 1 of the Boxing Day Test threw India off guard on the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Thursday.
With the Border-Gavaskar Trophy nonetheless up for grabs with the collection locked at 1-1, the Boxing Day Test might effectively determine which the collection will go.
The teenager scored a shocking fifty on debut earlier than Ravindra Jadeja trapped him leg earlier than wicket.
More than his runs, it was Konstas‘Audacity to take on the world class Jasprit Bumrah with the brand new ball that had the specialists singing his eulogy.
Talking to Channel Seven, India tempo spearhead Bumrah advised how he felt like bowling to Konstas.
Bumrah says within the video shared by 7Cricket, “I have experienced heaps of it. I have played T20 cricket a lot. More than 12 years of T20 cricket. Interesting batsman as well, and I always felt I was in the game, I never Felt that I am far away from a wicket. Initially I felt I could get him out 6-7 times in the first two overs, but that’s how cricket goes, some days it pays off. looks good, some days it doesn’t, then you guys might be criticizing the same person. So that’s how cricket is, I love different challenges and always looking forward to a new challenge.”
Konstas hit Bumrah for 2 sixes throughout his knock. This was the primary time in three years that Bumrah was hit for a six in Test cricket.
On how taking part in in Australia brings the perfect out of him, Bumrah mentioned, “Yes it always brings out the best in me. I played here in my first Test tour in 2018, I made my ODI debut in 2016 here as well. It brings out a lot of challenges as well because the wickets are very flat, the Kookaburra ball does a little bit with the new ball but then doesn’t do anything, so your accuracy is tested, the weather can sometimes test your fitness, you patience everything is tested. So once you come out on top, after that, it really leaves you in a very good space and you can become a better cricketer.”
Steve Smith, who struck 140 in Australia’s opening innings, was additionally hailed by Bumrah as a tough batsman to bowl to.
“He (Smith) has always been a challenge. He is unorthodox, bit like me. He is not a conventional batter, someday he is shuffling someday not, so it brings out a new challenge. He scores in different area of the ground and so you have to be consistent and bowl good balls ball after ball.
“I at all times had good battles with him in all codecs I performed towards him. Obviously, one of many greats of the sport and on this format he’s at all times tough to bowl,” he mentioned.
