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Konstas' debut fireworks puts Australia on top at MCG
Oliver Caffrey, AAP • December 26th, 2024 9:00 pm
Photo: James Ross/AAP
Australian cricket's newest star Sam Konstas has gone about changing the course of the Border-Gavaskar series with an instantly-iconic Boxing Day debut at the MCG.
The teenager's cavalier 60 from 65 balls, that will go down in Australian cricket folklore, propelled the hosts to 311/6 at stumps on day one as India baked in high-30s temperatures.
Australia's position is not as dominant as it could be, with several cheap dismissals inviting superstar quick Jasprit Bumrah (3/75) into the contest.
Within reach of centuries in back-to-back Tests, star veteran Steve Smith (68no) will resume batting on Friday alongside captain Pat Cummins (8no).
But it was Konstas who stole the show in front of a bumper crowd of 87,242, boldly taking it to the megastars of Indian cricket.
The 19-year-old showed nerves of steel to take down Bumrah - the world's No.1 ranked bowler - who had destroyed Australia with 21 wickets across the first three Tests.
Konstas was dismissed 30 minutes before lunch to star spinner Ravindra Jadeja, but not before putting together one of the most memorable innings in the MCG's long history.
Teenager Sam Konstas is ready to take his Test chance after being named in Australia's starting XI | Video: Roger Vaughan, AAP
Coming in for axed opener Nathan McSweeney, Konstas survived a brutal first over from Bumrah when he played and missed four times, before rattling India.
The NSW whiz kid'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 comprised all ramp shots.
Photo: Joel Carrett/AAP
By the ninth over, India had reverted to putting fielders out to the boundary in a bid to tame the teen's attacking attitude.
By the ninth over, India had reverted to putting fielders out to the boundary in a bid to tame his attacking attitude.
"It was quite surreal, with the big crowd, biggest crowd I've ever played in and the boys welcomed me," Konstas said.
"Just playing with that freedom and backing myself...obviously a bit disappointed with the way I got out, but hopefully we get a bit of momentum."
Virat Kohli, one of India's most famous cricketers ever and an idol of Konstas, bumped into the Aussie debutant 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.
Konstas reached his fifty in just 52 balls with a range of shots that are rarely attempted at Test level, especially not a youngster on debut.
It was the third-fastest 50 by an Australian on Test debut, only behind Adam Gilchrist (1999) and Ashton Agar (2013).
Photo: Joel Carrett/AAP
The country's 468th male Test cricketer, Konstas was presented with his baggy green cap by storied former Australia captain Mark Taylor.
With a beaming smile during the national anthem before the match, Konstas strode to the wicket well in front of Khawaja, determined to face the first ball.
He is the fourth youngest Australian male to play at Test level.
Konstas's innings evoked memories of former star opener David Warner's international debut, coming at the MCG against South Africa in 2009.
But while Warner did it in a Twenty20, Konstas made his mark on the biggest day on the Australian cricket calendar when the Border-Gavaskar series is still delicately poised at 1-1.
The intent displayed by Konstas allowed Khawaja, 19 years his senior, to find form and post his first half-century since January after a dismal start to the series that cast doubt on his international future.
But Khawaja (57) was the first of four soft dismissals for Australia, with Marnus Labuschagne (72) also failing to capitalise on a promising start.
Travis Head, the leading run-scorer in the series, was bowled for a duck after shouldering arms to a Bumrah delivery.
Reigning Allan Border medallist Mitch Marsh's woes continued when he nicked a reckless pull shot to be out for four.
Australia must win at least one of the the last two Tests and prevent India from winning again to regain the Border-Gavaskar trophy.
Cummins won his first toss of the series, electing to bat first to escape the sweltering day one conditions.
The MCG has become a bowler-friendly venue since Scott Boland's famous debut against England in 2021.
Only two totals of more than 300 have been posted across the three Boxing Day Tests prior to this one.
India made the big call to drop star No.3 Shubman Gill, preferring allrounder Washington Sundar as an extra bowling option.
Under-fire captain Rohit Sharma will move back to the top of the order after batting at No.6 in Adelaide and Brisbane.
"We felt in these conditions, looking at the pitch, having 'Washy' (Sundar) in the bowling attack will give us that variation," India assistant coach Abhishek Nayar said.
"Rohit will come up in the order, and more likely than not, he will open the innings for us."
Australia: Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Mitch Marsh, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins (capt), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland.
India: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma (capt), KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep.
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