Sam Konstas, Australia's youngest Test opener, launched an extraordinary assault on India's world-class bowlers on Boxing Day, showcasing his fearless batting and unwavering composure.
Sam Konstas , Australia ’s youngest Test opener, made a remarkable start to his international career by boldly facing India in front of 90,000 fans at the MCG. The 19-year-old showed nerves of steel on debut by attacking Jasprit Bumrah - the world’s No.1 ranked bowler who took 21 wickets during the first three Tests to repeatedly destroy Australia ’s top order - in the Boxing Day Test.
Bumrah failed to take a wicket during the first session, as Australia went to lunch at 1-112 with Usman Khawaja (38) and Marnus Labuschagne (12) unbeaten. Konstas’ flair allowed Khawaja, 19 years his senior, to find form and post his highest score of the series. Konstas was lbw for 60 from 65 balls, 30 minutes before lunch to star spinner Ravindra Jadeja, but not before putting together an innings that will go down in Australian cricket folklore. Coming in for axed opener Nathan McSweeney, Konstas survived a brutal first over from Bumrah, when he played and missed four times, to rattle India. The 19-year-old’s first runs, a two off his legs, were cheered like he had reached a milestone, before launching in extraordinary fashion. Konstas took India’s most important player for 14 runs, including a six, off one jaw-dropping over that all came from ramp shots. By the ninth over, India had reverted to putting fielders out to the boundary in a bid to tame the NSW whiz kid’s attacking attitude. Virat Kohli, one of India’s most famous cricketers ever, bumped into the teenager during a dramatic mid-pitch incident at the start of the 10th over. Khawaja tried to defuse the situation by putting an arm around Kohli and laughing it off, but the incident will be closely looked at by the match referee. A villain of the Australian crowds this summer, India fast bowler Mohammed Siraj fired off words to Konstas multiple times, but he remained unfazed
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