Gargi Raut in Melbourne
A 19-year-old Sam Konstas delivered a Boxing Day performance that will be etched in the minds of cricket fans for a long time to come. Ranged against a world-class Indian bowling attack in front of a crowd of over 87,000, the young batter displayed a level of audacity and determination that belied his age and experience.
The Entrance of a Fearless Debutant
Konstas walked in, in front of a packed MCG and marked his guard; with a curled lip and chanting mantras unknown the 19 year-old was ready to take on India. Tasked with facing Jasprit Bumrah, one of the world’s best, he exuded confidence – a demeanour consistent with his pre-match press conference, where he dismissed nerves with his now-famous “I’m unfazed” remark.
In the post-play press conference, Konstas revealed that it was his own decision to face the first ball of the innings. He had a chat with Usman Khawaja, and expressed his desire to shoulder responsibility from the outset. It was clear that the Australian management had given him a free hand. Pat Cummins, the captain, and Andrew McDonald, Australia’s coach, had made it known that Konstas was there to put the pressure back on the opposition and he did not disappoint. With Khawaja struggling for form, Konstas was the wild card in Australia’s arsenal. Later, India’a batting coach revealed that they weren’t surprised with the shots that Konstas pulled out of his kitty.
A Free Spirit with a Purpose
The message was clear: Konstas was there to toy with the bowlers. In only the third over of the match, he attempted a lap shot against Bumrah, a bold choice considering Konstas had near-misses in the first two overs. Even though his initial attempts were unsuccessful, his persistence paid off. By the sixth over, he was executing the lap shots with precision, sending Bumrah for fours and even a six.
The sequence looked something like this:
It wasn’t all smooth sailing. Konstas struggled against inswinging deliveries, especially in the 8th over, where back-to-back inswingers from Bumrah left him stuck. The pressure mounted as Virat Kohli squared up against him, a move that cost Kohli a demerit point and a 20 per cent match-fee fine.
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Turning the Tide
By the 11th over, Konstas had settled in, launching a barrage of boundaries against Bumrah. The pressure began to shift. Mohammed Siraj tried to regain control with consecutive bouncers but found no success.
By the 13th over, Konstas brought up his half-century off just 52 balls, the third-fastest half-century on Test debut. At this point, nothing seemed to work against him, not even short-pitched deliveries.
Although unconventional, Konstas’ approach was effective. The lap shot was both a scoring mechanism and a release shot – a tactic that worked well to disrupt the rhythm of the bowlers. Cummins summarised it best in the pre-match press conference: “Konstas has the ability to put the pressure back on the opposition.”
His innings came to an end in the 19th over when Ravindra Jadeja trapped him with a clever delivery. But even though Konstas had moments of struggle, he never wavered from his plan. Against an aggressive Indian attack, it might have seemed a little bizarre for him to go for the shots he did, but he stayed true to his instincts. It takes incredible mental strength to not back down, even when things get tough. Konstas knew exactly what his role was, and executed it to perfection with remarkable clarity and confidence.
Also Read: Kohli accidentally bumped me: Sam Konstas on intimidation tactics by India