 "Australia's Sam Konstas celebrates scoring his fifty on Day 1 of the Boxing Day Test against India. AP")
Sam Konstas made a memorable international debut for Australia with a 65-ball 60 on Day 1 of the Boxing Day Test against India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Thursday. Konstas, who had replaced Nathan McSweeney in the playing XI, hit six fours and two sixes during his knock.
Sam Konstas takes on Jasprit Bumrah, breaks records
The 19-year-old particularly took on Jasprit Bumrah during his innings, scoring 34 runs from 33 balls against the India pacer and both of his sixes came against Bumrah. Konstas’ 34 runs against Bumrah is the most number of runs any batter has scored against the Gujarat speedster in a single spell.
When Bumrah conceded his first six against Konstas in the seventh over of Australia’s innings, it was for the first time in three years that Bumrah conceded a six in Tests. Konstas played a reverse scoop over deep third man fence against Bumrah for his first six, whereas he cleared long-on for his second six in the 11th over.
The last time Bumrah got hit for a six in Tests prior to Thursday was on 7 January, 2021 when Cameron Green had punished the India speedster. On Thursday, Bumrah conceded a six in Tests after 4483 deliveries.
Konstas also became the second youngest Australian player to score a half-century in Tests. Ian Craig is the youngest and he was 17 years old when he scored a half-century against South Africa in 1953.
Bumrah has so far picked up 21 wickets from three Tests and is the leading run-getter in the series. This includes two five-wicket hauls, one in Perth and another in Brisbane. The five-match Test series is level 1-1 with India having won the first Test in Perth and Australia the second Test in Adelaide . The third Test in Brisbane ended in a draw with rain playing spoilsport for a major part of the game.