NEWS
Follow Us- Sam Konstas becomes the fourth-youngest debutant for Australia in Test cricket.
- Gets beaten on a couple of occasions and fails to get a single run against Jasprit Bumrah in the first over of the fourth Test at the MCG.
- Over 2.5: Oh, hello! Good length around the top of off; Sam Konstas brings out the reverse lap but fails to connect, and everyone around him has a bit of a chuckle. Bumrah, too, has a smirky smile as he walks back to the bowling mark.
- Over 4.3: That's a loose shot from Konstas! Floated up full and wide from Bumrah, Konstas brings out that reverse lap again, but his feet go nowhere, and he misses the connection a long way.
- Over 6.1: FOUR! Wow, Sam Konstas staying true to his beliefs and does get away with a cheeky boundary! Fuller in length on off and angling in, Konstas walks across the off stump and plays the normal lap shot, high and over the keeper's head down to fine leg for a boundary.
- Over 6.2: SIX! UNBELIEVABLE! Sam Konstas is fired up and picks up the first six of the match as well. Bumrah bowls another full one on off, Konstas shows quick hands and brings up the reverse lap, nailing it over the deep third fence for a biggie.
- Over 6.5: FOUR! Konstas is taking down the big gun Jasprit Bumrah in style! Pitched-up delivery, just around off and Konstas pre-meditates a bit and just angles the reverse lap up and over down to deep third for a boundary. That one just bounced into the boundary cushion.
- Over 9.4: Konstas comes down the track to Mohammed Siraj and hits it back to the bowler. After stopping the ball on his followthrough, Siraj goes to Konstas and exchanged a few words. Even Virat Kohli gave the debutant a stare.
- Over 9.5: FOUR! Konstas with a top shot and now Siraj just has to quietly walk back to the top of his mark. Fractionally short and outside off, Konstas waits back well and makes a bit of room before slapping it wide of point for a cracking boundary.
- After the 10th over: Whoa, it's heating up there already! A shoulder bump between Kohli and Konstas as soon as the over concluded while the former was passing by the youngster. Both have a bit of a verbal and Khawaja converges in between and tries to calm things up a bit. Kohli does not like that one bit, but Konstas is winning the battle here. He has sort of disrupted the line and length of the Indian bowlers.
- Over 10.1: FOUR! That's been pummeled to the fence and even Jasprit Bumrah will now rethink his plans. Fuller delivery on off, Konstas is early to back away and drills the ball between mid off and covers for another boundary.
- Over 10.4: SIX! Sam Konstas is blazing up the already heated MCG in iconic fashion! Another slower delivery, floated up on the stumps, Konstas is a bit undone again but holds his shot and just launches the heave up and over wide mid on and the ball just sails over the fence as well, amazing.
- Over 10.5: FOUR! Wow, it keeps getting better and better for Sam Konstas. Bumrah tries to spear in a yorker at the off-stump line but Konstas just backs away and opens the face of the blade, slashing it off the stumps and well behind point for another boundary.
- Over 13.1: FIFTY FOR THE DEBUTANT, KONSTAS! One of the most remarkable starts, if not the most remarkable ones, says Mark Nicholas on air. The Melbourne crowd is on its feet to cheer the brave youngster. Pitched fuller on the stumps, Sam Konstas gets it off the inside edge, and it runs to the deep backward square leg region. The batters scamper back for the second. Konstas soaks in all the appreciation from the crowd, and he deserves every bit of it.
- Over 13.2: FOUR! That's how I do it, says Konstas! This is just remarkable batting! Short by Siraj, this time around on the body, Sam Konstas stands tall and smacks the pull aerially. It lands just ahead of the boundary cushions for a boundary at deep mid-wicket.
- Over 19.2: Ravindra Jadeja to Sam Konstas ,OUT! LBW! A huge confident appeal and up goes the finger instantly! Sam Konstas believes that it is pretty much plumb and walks away without reviewing it. Konstas gets huge applause from the MCG crowd as he walks back after a fine 60. Finally, a breakthrough for India. Coming to the delivery, Jadeja stays around the stumps and floats it up through the air. Lands it full and in front of the stumps, on the middle and leg. Konstas takes a good stride ahead to defend but plays the wrong line and gets trapped in front. The ball hits his front pad, and the umpire raises his finger in a blink for the appeal.
Sam Konstas - 60 off 65 deliveries, six fours and two sixes, take a bow!
